Indian Air Force (IAF) will soon test fire BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from its frontline fighter jet Sukhoi Su-30MKI. An Irkut Corporation spokesperson was quoted by Russia Beyond the Headlines news website as saying that BrahMos Aerospace Limited will perform the first test launch of the Russian-Indian supersonic cruise missile from the fighter in 2016.
Some modifications have been made in the airborne version of the missile and it is lighter by 500 kilograms than its land based version. Additional rear fins have been added for aerodynamic stability during separation from the fighter during the launch.
The required modification in SU-30 MKI for interface with the missile launcher and integration with the weapon control of the aircraft have been carried out by the IAF and Sukhoi Design Bureau.
With a range of up to 290 kilometers, supersonic speed (up to 2.8 Mach), a large combat payload (200-300 kilograms) and low signature, the missile is touted as one of the most potent weapons platform in the armoury of the Indian defence forces.
The missile which weighs three tonnes in the basic modification, flies in altitudes from as low as 10 metres (terminal altitude) to 14,000 metres (cruising altitude) along a changeable trajectory. It is a two stage missile with a solid propellant booster engine as its first stage which brings it to supersonic speed and then gets separated.
Indian Army and Indian Navy have already inducted BrahMos cruise missiles.
Comments
0 comment