Russian Tech Converts BrahMos Cruise Missile Into Super Rocket

The Indian Navy has carried out the successful test-firing of the upgraded BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on October 7 from the frigate INS Teg off the coast of Goa. The sea-launched variant has an advanced satellite navigation system from Russia's Kh-555 and Kh-101 strategic long-range cruise missiles, adding GPS-GLONASS technology to the existing doppler-inertial platform. The integration of the navigation systems from Kh-555 will turn BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile, into a "super-rocket" with almost a sub-strategic capability above its normal tactical range, capable of hitting targets over 180-300 miles (300-500 km), from sea, land and air launchers, and capable of being armed with a nuclear warhead, Russian daily Izvestia reported on Tuesday. India plans to deploy over 200 advanced Sukhoi Su-30 MKI strike aircraft by 2020 for the air launched version of BrahMos. The ballistic missile can reach a speed of Mach 2.8 at levels as low as 30 feet (10 m) or fly high-profile diving attacks.