Launched version of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

India to test Air-Launched version of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

BrahMos the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile created history on 22nd November 2017 after it was successfully flight tested by the Indian Air Force front line aircraft Su-30 MKI against a sea based target in the Bay of Bengal. The missile was gravity from the Su-30 MKI from fuselage and the two stage missile’s engine fired up and straightway propelled towards the intended target at the sea of Bay of Bengal.

The Indian Air Force is planning to test fire the air launched version of the BrahMos missile in the upcoming days, following which India would enable to carry out Balakot-like airstrikes.

In this article we will study about Air version of BrahMos,

So let’s start

The development work related to the Air launch version of the missile is complete. Work has also been successfully completed with Sukhoi design bureau, HAL, and the IAF for interface requirements and installation of BrahMos on Su-30 MKI.

Two aircraft were embarked by the IAF for the initial launch trials. The first Su-30 MKI modified for BrahMos missile was handed over by HAL to BrahMos Aerospace on 19 Feb 2015 at Bengaluru.

Specifications

• It will arm Su-30 MKI of Indian Air Force as Standoff weapon.
• Its operational range is up to 290 Km.
• It can travel at a speed of 2.8 Mach.
• Only one missile can be armed in Su-30 MKI at a time.

Also the missile was planned to arm the Indian Navy’s Ilyushin Il-38 and Tupolev Tu-142 maritime patrol and anti submarine aircraft with 6 missiles per aircraft.

But this could not be made possible due to insufficient ground clearance of the IL-38, high cost of modifying the Tu-142 and the questionable benefits of modifying an ageing fleet.

Consequently, IAF has plans of having 40 Su-30MKIs fitted with the BrahMos missiles which can carry out long range standoff strikes against enemy targets.

So this was it,

Stay tuned to DDE for more

Jai Hind

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