BrahMos Aerospace successfully test-fires BrahMos missile with enhanced capability
25 Jan 2022
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BrahMos Aerospace on Thursday successfully test-fired supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, with increased indigenous content and improved performance, from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the Odisha coast.
The launch was conducted, at 10:30 hrs on 20 January 2022, in close coordination with the teams of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In this text-book flight, the missile followed the predicted trajectory meeting all mission objectives, says a defence ministry release.
The flight test is a major milestone in the way forward for BrahMos programme. The highly manouverable missile cruised at supersonic speed for its maximum range and all mission objectives were met says the release.
The missile, which is equipped with advanced indigenous technologies, followed a modified optimal trajectory for enhanced efficiency and improved performance. The missile with the modified control system has been fine tuned to achieve an enhanced capability. This flight test was monitored by all the sensors of the range instrumentation, including telemetry, radar and electro-optical tracking systems deployed across the eastern coast and the down range ships.
With the Air Force equipping its front-line Sukhoi-30 fighters with BrahMos missiles, the country upgraded its capabilities to keep a watch on the strategically-important Indian Ocean Region and deliver an offensive option swiftly, if necessary.
India has already developed an extended range BrahMos missile that can hit targets at a range of more than 400 km by tweaking the configuration of the existing weapon. Increasing the missile’s range became possible after India’s induction into the Missile Technology Control Regime in June 2016. India is also laying the groundwork to develop a high-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, capable of striking targets more than 800 km away.
Teams from DRDO and NPOM, Russia participated in the test. BrahMos Aerospace, the joint venture between DRDO and NPOM, Russia, has been continuously upgrading the powerful, highly versatile BrahMos to increase its effectiveness and lethality against sea and land targets. BrahMos is the potent missile weapon system already inducted into the armed forces.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh complimented the Brahmos, DRDO teams and industry for the successful flight test.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and chairman DRDO, G Satheesh Reddy appreciated the scientists and engineers for continuously putting efforts to maximise the weapon system’s efficiency and increased focus on indigenous content. Director General, BrahMos Atul D Rane congratulated the joint teams of NPOM, Russia and DRDO teams involved in the test.
