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NEW DELHI (BNS): The world’s only supersonic cruise missile BRAHMOS has impressed more countries at the recently held Latin American defence expo in Brazil, with three nations expressing keen interest in buying the missile system.

“Brazil, Chile and South Africa have shown interest in the shore-based and ship-based versions of the missile,” IANS quoted a senior official of BrahMos Aerospace as saying.

Defence officials from Brazil, Chile and South Africa thronged the company’s stall at the expo organized at Rio de Janeiro from April 14 to 17 he said, adding, the officials were particularly keen to know more about the ship-based version of the missile.

The Defence minister of Brazil, South Africa’s army chief and senior defence officials of Chile wanted more information about the missile. "The speed of the missile also impressed them," he said.

Footage of the successful launch of BrahMos missile on March 29 which hit "bull's eye" was shown at the exhibition. The missile capable of flying at a speed of up to 2.8 Mach (three times the speed of the sound) has a 290 km range and carries a 300-kg conventional warhead.

Cruise missiles fly at low altitudes and have the ability to evade enemy radars and air-defence systems. They are also easier and cheaper to operate.

BrahMos land version was inducted in the Indian Army with the first battery entering service in June 2007. Each battery is equipped with four mobile launchers mounted on 12x12 Tatra transporters. Army is planning to induct three more such batteries.

The Indian Navy has also inducted the missile system on its destroyer INS Ranvir and INS Rajput. The missile will also be mounted on three 7,000-tonne Kolkata class destroyers currently being built at Mumbai's Mazagon docks.