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BANGALORE (BNS): The test of air-launched version of BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile is expected to take place in 2012, BrahMos Aerospace Chief A Sivathanu Pillai has said.

“The Indian Air Force has chosen the Su-30MKI fighter aircraft as the launch platform for the BRAHMOS missile.

“Russia will give design modifications for the aircraft. Some exclusive modifications are being made in the aircraft to use it as a platform for launching BRAHMOS missile,” the BrahMos Chief told reporters during the Bengaluru Space Expo 2010 here on Wednesday.

“We are almost ready with the missile system. In the next two years, we are aiming to complete all tasks related to this,” he said.

There are also plans to carry out tests of the missile system from underwater platform for the Indian Navy, Dr. Pillai said.

Speaking about India's partnership with Russia to design and develop the weapon, he said Russia is the only country which has developed the cruise missile technology.

“As our aim was to overtake others, we joined Russia to develop the world's only supersonic cruise missile system,” he said.

A large number of countries have evinced interest in this missile system. “It will take some time to export BRAHMOS to other countries,” Dr. Pillai said.