IAF Sukhoi-30MKI jets in Russia for BrahMos aerial version retrofit programme

10 January 2009

New Delhi: The Indo-Russian cruise missile joint venture, BrahMos Aerospace, is working towards crossing yet another milestone with the dispatch to Russia of two Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets for a retrofit programme that would enable them to launch the aerial version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

Once the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile crosses this particular milestone it will become a "universal cruise missile" as it is already capable of being launched from land and sea–based platforms, including submarines.

Apart from the submarine version all other land and naval versions have already been inducted for service with the Indian Army and Navy.

"The aerial version of the BrahMos missiles will be delivered from the Su-30MKI platform. We were in talks with Sukhoi and the IAF for it. Finally two Su-30MKIs of the IAF have been sent to Russia for retrofitting," a senior official of BrahMos Aerospace confirmed to media sources.

"The aerial version of BrahMos is coming along very well. After being programmed, the missile will be released from the aircraft and will auto-launch towards its target when it reaches an altitude of 50 metres," the official said.

"The aerial version is nearly nine metres long and this requires modifications of the aircraft's fuselage. Since the Sukhoi company is busy with designing a fifth generation fighter, DRDO scientists, along with Russian experts, will carry out the necessary modifications," the official said.