Advanced BrahMos version tested successfully

In a major victory for the army, an advanced version of BrahMos block-II was successfully tested from the integrated test range at Chandipur off Orissa coast on Sunday.

The missile flew in its designated complex trajectory, which included large manoeuvres and steep dives. This is the first time in the world that a supersonic steep dive manoeuvre has been realised by a cruise missile.

The launch was conducted in the presence of Lieutenant General Vinod Nayanar, director general of artillery, AS Pillai, chief executive officer of the Delhi-based BrahMos Aerospace, scientists from Defence Research and Development Organisation, industry representatives and officers from different units of the army.

The sophisticated cruise missile has been already inducted into the army and navy. A regiment of BrahMos block-I with anti-ship and land-based radio contrast target capabilities is already operational in the army.

The army is looking to induct two regiments of the block-II advanced version in a few months.

Block-II has the capability to precisely hit a small target in a cluster of large targets, as was demonstrated in Pokhran recently, making it even more lethal.

Brahmos is a two-stage missile that has a solid propellant booster and a liquid propellant ramjet system. It can fly at 2.8 times the speed of sound and carry conventional warheads up to 300 kg as far as 290 km.

The cruise missile can be launched from multiple platforms — land, ship, submarines and air. Currently, the focus in on developing its air-launch and submarine-launch versions.