Published 06:59 IST, October 19th 2020
IAF congratulates DRDO on successfully test-firing of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
The IAF congratulated the DRDO on the successful test-firing of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which was fired from INS Chennai stealth destroyer on Sunday.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired a naval version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in the Arabian Sea on Sunday. The missile was fired from INS Chennai, an indigenously built stealth destroyer, and it hit the target with pinpoint accuracy after performing "extremely complex" manoeuvres. The Indian Air Force (IAF) congratulated the DRDO on the successful test-firing of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
BrahMos missile
BrahMos as 'prime strike weapon' will ensure the warship's invincibility by engaging naval surface targets at long ranges, thus making the destroyer another lethal platform of Indian Navy, a statement read.
BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russia joint venture, develops supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence DRDO, the BrahMos Aerospace and the Indian Navy for the successful test-firing of the missile. DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy too congratulated the scientists and all personnel involved in the test-firing of the missile which he said will add to the capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces in many ways.
India test-fires series of missiles
In the last few weeks, India has test-fired a number of missiles including a new version of the surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile BrahMos and anti-radiation missile Rudram-1. India also carried out a successful test-firing of a laser-guided anti-tank guided missile and nuclear-capable hypersonic missile 'Shaurya'.
The successful test firing of Rudram-1 was seen as a major milestone as it is India’s first indigenously developed anti-radiation weapon. The flight testing of the missiles came in the midst of India's bitter border row with China in eastern Ladakh.
In May last year, the Indian Air Force successfully test-fired the aerial version of the BrahMos missile from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. On September 30, India successfully test-fired a new version of the surface-to-surface version of the BrahMos. The range of the new land-attack version of the missile has been extended to 400 km from the original 290 km.
India has already deployed a sizeable number of the original BrahMos missiles and other key assets in several strategic locations along the de-facto border with China in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
(With inputs from agency)
Updated 06:59 IST, October 19th 2020