Boost To India’s Air Defence: BrahMos Aerospace To Develop Anti-AWACS Missile With Over 400 Km-Range For IAF

The BrahMos Aersopace, an Indo-Russian joint venture, is mulling on developing an air-to-air version of the BrahMos missile that will be able to destroy airbone warning and control systems (AWACS), reports Sputnik News.

The BrahMos Aerospace, which has developed world’s fastest cruise missile BrahMos, is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia of Russia.

According to the report, the company will soon conduct test of the anti-AWACS missile that will have a range in excess of 400-500 km.

“We are thinking to develop the air-to-air version with anti-AWACS capability. The range can be in excess of 400-500 km and the test will be sometime in the near future,” BrahMos chief executive officer (CEO) Sudhir Kumar Mishra said in an interview.

The missile will reportedly be able to hit enemy surveillance systems, refuelling aircraft, and transporters from long distance.

The missile will boost the firepower of the Indian Air Force (IAF), which at present is dependent upon the Russian missiles to destroy long-range radar surveillance and control systems.

As per the report, the IAF has shown interest in the missile capable of destroying enemy radar system in wake of the possibility that Pakistan could procure similar long-range missiles from China.