Indian Army releases news, photos of BrahMos test firing, then withdraws them

The Indian Army on Thursday released photographs and a statement concerning "successful" test firing of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, only to withdraw them later without assigning any reasons.

The Defence Wing of Press Information Bureau (PIB) first issued two photographs in the afternoon purportedly showing the launch of the missile from Car Nicobar Islands. A little later, a press release was issued about the launch at about 11 AM.

However, about an hour later, the Army issued an advisory to the media to withdraw both photos as well as the press release for some inexplicable reason. Efforts to elicit the reasons for the flip-flop were fended off by the Army.

The original press release had said the Block III variant of BrahMos with steep dive capability was launched by the Army unit from a Mobile Autonomous Launcher.

It had said the missile followed a predetermined trajectory and successfully hit the designated target on Trak Island at an extended range.