Brahmos Missile To Enter Service By 2016

The Indian Air Force plans to induct BRAHMOS cruise missiles in 2016, after completing 10 flight tests by this year-end.

"According to the schedule, the missile is expected to enter service in 2016. A further 10 tests will be conducted by the end of the year. In May, a test flight with the launching system for the missile will be conducted,", Sudhir Kumar Mishra, CEO and Managing Director for Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace, told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

The air-launched version of the BhaMos missile is 500 kg lighter and half a meter shorter than its sea-launched version for successful integration with the fighter.

The Indian Army has operationalised the supersonic cruise missile system in its arsenal and further orders are in pipeline.

Indian Navy has installed the universal weapon system on its destroyers and frigates, and many of its newly-built frontline warships will be fitted with BRAHMOS in the coming years.