New Delhi: India on Wednesday test-fired an extended range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. The missile, whose test-firing was successful, is capable of hitting targets at more than 400-km range.
It was reported that the missile was test-fired at around 10.30 am from a mobile launcher at the integrated test range (ITR) in Odisha’s Balasore district.
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| BrahMos missile test fired | Photo Credit: ANI |
The test was carried out under PJ-10 project of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, under which the missile was launched with an indigenous booster.
This is the second time that the extended range version of BrahMos supersonic missile has been test-fired. The airframe and booster of the missile have been developed indigenously.
“The extended range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was test-fired off the coast of Odisha’s Balasore today. The missile can hit targets at a range of more than 400 kms. It is fitted with new indigenous booster and airframe,” ANI reported.
Congratulating the team of scientists involved in today’s successful test of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, DRDO chairman Dr G Satheesh Reddy said that it will lead to adding more indigenous content in the missile.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also congratulated the DRDO for the successful flight testing of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. "This achievement will give a big boost to India’s #AtmaNirbharBharat pledge," he tweeted.
BrahMos missile, developed as part of a joint venture between India and Russia, was originally built with a range of 290 kilometres. However, as part of the capability enhancement, the missile's range was extended to over 400 kilometres. As per some estimates, the supersonic cruise missile can hits targets at a range of upto 450 kms.
The first test of the extended range BrahMos missile was conducted in March 2017.
BrahMos is the first supersonic cruise missile known to be in service, as per the official website.
BrahMos was first inducted into the Indian armed forces in 2005, when it was deployed on Indian Navy ship INS Rajput.
BrahMos's ship-based and land-based versions are already in service while the air launch version has been successfully test-fired.
