DRDO to Test New Propellant Booster on BrahMos Missile in December

The High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) of India’s state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will conduct a mechanical vibration test of a solid proponent booster for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile sometime in December.

"A solid propellant booster, which is an important component of the BrahMos, is in its final stages of development. The requisites, which have been conducted in the recent past, have shown positive results and a final test, called a mechanical vibration test, will be carried out next month. The propellant will thereafter be put to use in the missile," HEMRL Director KPS Murthy, who was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of the 11th International High Energy Materials Conference and Exhibits (HEMCE-2017) said Thursday.

The solid propellant booster is soon going to be introduced for future launches of BrahMos. The two-stage missile system uses a solid propellant booster to achieve supersonic speed in the first stage while at the second stage the liquid ramjet takes the missile closer to Mach 3 speed in cruise phase.

The booster trial results have been evaluated by Russian experts and the final test is expected to be conducted sometime in December.

The BrahMos missile has been jointly developed by Russian and Indian scientists and is the world's first and only supersonic cruise missile. It is a precision strike weapon for the Indian armed forces and can be fitted in ships, mobile launchers, submarines and aircraft against land and sea targets.

HEMRL is responsible for the design and development of ignition systems for all classes of solid rocket propellants used in the tactical and strategic missile programs of DRDO such as the Pinaka Mk I & Mk-II, Akash, Nirbhay, AAD, Agni program.