Article Posted on : - Feb 07, 2013

The BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile integrated on Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. A Brahmand photo.

YELAHANKA, BANGALORE (BNS): BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system, which is getting ready for launch from the Indian Air Force’s frontline Su-30MKI fighter aircraft, is one of the major attractions at the biennial Aero India show here.

The Indian-Russian Joint Venture BrahMos Aerospace is displaying a full-scale model of BRAHMOS air-launched version along with the indigenously-built airborne launcher integrated on the IAF’s Sukhoi-30 fighter jet.

The air-launched version of the missile will be lighter than its previous two variants but would be equally lethal in firepower and devastating capability as its range and maximum speed of 290-km and 2.8 Mach respectively will remain unchanged.

Development and integration of the air-launched version of BRAHMOS is currently at an advanced stage and the missile is expected to be flight tested from onboard a Su-30MKI aircraft in the coming months.

BRAHMOS is a two-stage missile, with a solid propellant booster engine in the first phase and a liquid ramjet in the second stage.

Once deployed on the multi-role Su-30MKI, BRAHMOS will render an unmatched combat potential to the IAF to take on enemy installations from stand-off ranges.

The BRAHMOS missile system has been successfully inducted by the Indian Army and Navy.