Final Trials For Su-30MKI-Launched BrahMos Missile By June

Indian Air force will conduct final trails of the air-launched BrahMos cruise missile in Pokhran firing range in Jaisalmer by June first week.

“The air launched version of the formidable missile shall be test-fired against a live sea-based target in second half of the May followed with a final test-fire against a live land target in Pokhran by May last week or June first week,” official sources at BrahMos Aerospace told TOI.

According to the source, the test fires shall be conducted for a range of 300 kms at a speed of 2.8 Mach.

Drop trials of this ‘fire and forget' missile have been carried out successfully from Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft earlier. And after the successful completion of the final trials, the missile shall finally be ready for induction into the IAF.

"Further the data with respect to live sea target attack from air launched version would first be analysed paving way for the desert test fires of air launched version from the fighter aircraft against live land target in Pokaran at the most by first half of June", source added.

Earlier on March 11 this year, an enhanced version of the BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile successfully knocked down enemy targets far beyond a range of 400km from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) Chandipurat sea in Balasore, off the coast of Odisha.

On April 21, Indian Navy also undertook the maiden firing of BrahMos Land Attack Supersonic Cruise Missile from Indian Naval Ship Teg, a Guided Missile Frigate, on a target on land. Its anti-ship variant has already been inducted into the navy.