India Successfully Test-Fires Air Version Of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

The air version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from the supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30 MK-I at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday (8 December), an official release said.

"In this copy book flight, the missile launched from the aircraft followed the pre-planned trajectory meeting all mission objectives," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Wednesday.

The launch is a major milestone in the BrahMos development as it clears the system for the serial production of air-version BrahMos missiles within the country.

The missile has been developed by BrahMos Corporation, a joint venture between India's DRDO and Russia's NPOM for the development, production and marketing of the supersonic cruise missile.

BrahMos is the potent offensive missile weapon system already inducted into the Armed Forces.

Major airframe assemblies which form the integral part of the Ramjet engine are indigenously developed by Indian Industry. These include metallic and non-metallic air frame sections comprising Ramjet fuel tank and pneumatic fuel supply system, the ministry said.

During the test, the structural integrity and functional performance have been proven, it added.

The air version of BrahMos was last flight tested in July 2021.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), BrahMos, Indian Air Force and the industry on the successful test firing.

DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy said that various laboratories of DRDO, academic institutions, quality assurance and certification agencies, public sector undertakings and Indian Air Force participated in the development, testing, production and induction of this complex missile system.