BrahMos Extended Range Missile Failed During Tests: Reports

An extended range version of India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile failed during test-firing off the coast of Odisha state in the Bay of Bengal on Monday.

The misssile fell shortly after takeoff, Indian news agency ANI reported quoting sources. The extended range version of the missile is capable of hitting targets up to 450 kilometers.

The current maximum range of the Brahmos missile is estimated at 300km.

"The missile fell off shortly after the launch this morning. The reasons for the failure will be analyzed by scientists from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and BrahMos aerospace corporation," an ANI report from datelined Balasore in Odhisha state said quoting its sources.

There has been no official confirmation of the incident by the DRDO which oversees Brahmos Aerospace, the Indo-Russian joint venture to manufacture the Brahmos missile which has NPO Mashinostroeyenia on the Russian side.

If affirmed, today’s would be a rare failure in Brahmos Aerospace’s otherwise impeccable track record of successful test launches and integration into the Indian armed forces.

Brahmos missiles have land, naval and air force versions. The latter is launched from a Sukhoi-30MKI fighter-bomber.

Notably, a number of other versions of the supersonic cruise missile were earlier developed by BrahMos Aerospace under joint ventures between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPO Mashinostroeyenia (NPOM) of Russia.