India test-fires air launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

In a display of its growing combat prowess, Indian Air Force on Friday successfully test-fired an air launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi fighter aircraft in Bay of Bengal, official sources said.

missile hit a sinking ship with dely accuracy and test-firing produced desired results, y said.

aircraft, belonging to Thanjavur-based Tigersharks squron, took off from a frontline airbase in Punjab and it was refuelled mid-air before missile was released, y said. test firing of missile came in midst of India's bitter border standoff with China in eastern Lakh.

missile was fired after Su-30 MKI aircraft travelled for over three hours covering a "significantly long distance", officials said.

In May last year, Indian Air Force for first time h successfully test fired aerial version of BrahMos missile from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. BrahMos missile provides IAF a much desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all wear conditions.

IAF is also integrating BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on over 40 Sukhoi fighter jets which is aimed at bolstering overall combat capability of force.In last two months, India has test fired a number of missiles including a new version of surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile BrahMos and an anti-riation missile named Rudram-1.

Rudram-1 is planned to be inducted into service by 2022. On October 18, a naval version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from an indigeusly-built stealth destroyer of Indian Navy in Arabian sea. missile was fired from INS Chennai, a stealth destroyer, and it hit target with pin-point accuracy after performing "extremely complex" maeuvres.

BrahMos Aero, an India-Russian joint venture, produces supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms.India also carried out successful test firing of a laser guided anti-tank guided missile and nuclear capable hypersonic missile 'Shaurya'.

successful test firing of Rudram-1 was seen as a major milestone as it is India's first indigeusly developed anti-riation weapon.On September 30, India successfully test-fired a new version of surface-to-surface version of BrahMos.

range of new land attack version of missile has been extended to 400 km from original 290 km.

India has alrey deployed a sizable number of original BrahMos missiles and or key assets in several strategic locations along de-facto border with China in Lakh and Arunachal Presh. 

(IM CREDITS:PTI)