The Brahmos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired for the first time from the Indian Air Force’s frontline Sukhoi-30 MKI combat jet, significantly bolstering the country’s aerial prowess.
The armed forces are now capable of launching the Brahmos, which has a strike range of around 290 km and is described as the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile, from land, sea and air, completing the tactical cruise missile triad for the country.
The defence ministry said the missile hit a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal from the combat jet. The land and warship versions of the missile have already been inducted into the armed forces.
The defence ministry said, the successful maiden test firing of Brahmos Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) from Su-30MKI will significantly bolster the IAF’s air combat operations capability from stand-off ranges.
Giving details of the test firing, the ministry said the missile was “gravity dropped” from the Su-30 fuselage, and the two-stage missile’s engine fired up and straightway propelled towards the intended target at the sea.
Brahmos ALCM, weighing 2.5 ton is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on India’s Su-30 fighter aircraft modified by state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to carry weapons.
Brahmos is a joint venture between DRDO of India and NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia.