Article Posted on : - Jun 25, 2016

The Su-30MKI fighter fitted with BRAHMOS airborne missile before its take off at HAL, Nasik on June 25, 2016. A Brahmand photo

NEW DELHI (BNS): BrahMos Aerospace today on 25th of June 2016 successfully demonstrated the integration of world's most formidable supersonic cruise missile system BRAHMOS on Su-30MKI frontline strike fighter of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The demonstration flight, carried out at HAL Nasik, involved carriage of BRAHMOS weapon on the long-range Sukhoi-30 fighter, giving a major fillip to the BRAHMOS air-launched flight test programme.

With today's successful flight, the BRAHMOS air version programme now inches closer towards actual test firing when a 2.5-ton BRAHMOS air-to-ground missile will be fired from the Sukhoi-30 in the coming months.

Today's flight took place in the presence of Shri T Suvarna Raju, CMD, HAL, Shri Sudhir Kumar Mishra CEO & MD, BrahMos Aerospace & Shri Daljeet Singh, CEO, HAL Nasik.

Dr. S Christopher, Secretary, DRDO congratulated the team. He has continuously motivated and guided the BrahMos team to achieve the design capability of the BRAHMOS airborne missile system and personally reviewed engineering activities.

Shri. S K Mishra congratulated the Joint team of HAL, DRDO, IAF & BrahMos for achieving this technological feat which will go down in the history as first in the World combination of supersonic cruise missile with a long range strike fighter. He further noted the immense contribution of Mr. V S N Murthy, PD (BrahMos), and the three Deputy PDs – Gp. Capt. M K Srivastava, Gp. Capt. S Mondal, and Gp. Capt. K N Santosh for the BRAHMOS air version programme.

The Indian Air Force is elated at the enhanced firepower and range this deadly combination of Su-30 with BRAHMOS will provide to them.

The powerful missile will enable the IAF penetrate deep inside the enemy territory to deliver a deadly blow to their vital installations from stand-off ranges. The integration brings a paradigm shift in the capability of the IAF vis-à-vis its adversaries.

The Su-30-BRAHMOS combination will carry out air combat operations within and beyond visibility range and will provide the IAF with the capability of attacking targets protected by powerful air defence assets.

Integration of BRAHMOS with the Su-30MKI will render the weapon a multi-platform capability while making the IAF the only Air Force in the world in procession of a supersonic cruise missile system.

Today's flight trial has been keenly observed by several other nations in the world in possession of the Su-30 strike fighter who are looking towards acquiring a lethal weapon system for the Russian-made warplanes.