BrahMos’ new version has a successful launch

After failing to hit its target in the previous test on January 20, the updated version of the Block II BrahMos cruise missile successfully test fired in the Pokhran ranges on Wednesday.

It vertically took off, corrected its course through the flight, and zeroed in on the specific target from a cluster of similar looking structures, defence ministry sources said. The cruise missile flew for over two-and-a-half minutes before striking the target, approximately 50 km away.

The Block II BrahMos cruise missile was “successfully launched at 1030 hours this morning”, said a defence research and development organisation (DRDO) official.

The test launch was witnessed by deputy army chief (planning and systems) Lt Gen MS Dadwal and BrahMos Corporation CEO Dr Sivathanu Pillai. Once perfected, the Block II BrahMos would figure among the military’s key weapon systems for surgical strikes across the border. The missile’s capability is significant, considering India’s hunt for systems to carry out surgical strikes across the border, without causing human loss on this side of the border.

An army official agreed: “The upgraded version of the Indo-Russian joint product would significantly boost the military’s capability to carry out surgical strikes across the border on a terror target.”