India successfully test-fires supersonic cruise missile BrahMos along Odisha coast
What's the story
India today successfully test-fired the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a test range along the Odisha coast to validate some new features. The missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher stationed at Launchpad 3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near Balasore (Odisha) at 10:40 am. Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated DRDO scientists and team BrahMos. Here's more.
Details
The trial was conducted to validate its technologies
The trial was conducted to validate its "life extension" technologies developed first time in India by DRDO and team BrahMos. The two-stage missile - the first being solid and the second, a ramjet liquid-propellant - has already been introduced in the Army and Navy, while the Air Force version witnessed a successful trial. BrahMos variants can be launched from land, air, sea, and underwater.
Twitter Post
Raksha Mantri's office congratulates Team Brahmos & DRDO
Smt @nsitharaman congratulates Team Brahmos @DRDO_India for successful flight test carried out at 1040 hrs on 21 May 2018 from ITR, Balasore to validate BRAHMOS missile life extension technologies developed for the first time in India. 1/2
— Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) May 21, 2018
BrahMos
The missile's land and naval variants are already in service
India successfully launched the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi-30 MKI combat jet for the first time against a target in the Bay of Bengal in Nov'17. The missile's land and naval variants are already in service. At least two Su-30 squadrons with 20 planes each are planned to be equipped with the air-launch variant BrahMos missile, 500kg lighter than land/naval variants.
BrahMos Versions
The air and submarine launch version are in progress
Currently, the Army is equipped with three regiments of Block 111 version of BrahMos missile. Induction of the first version of BrahMos missile system in Indian Navy began with INS Rajput in 2005. It is now fully operational with two regiments of the Army. The air launch version and the submarine launch version of the missile system are in progress.