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World Aviation Defense & Security News - India
 
 
IAF Su-30MKI successfully test-fires Brahmos cruise missile
 
India has successfully conducted a live-firing test of new BRAHMOS air-launched cruise missile (ALCM), according to the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India. "On November 22, a Su-30MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force [IAF] successfully launched a BRAHMOS missile against a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal. The successful firing test of the BRAHMOS ALCM will beef up the service`s capability to engage targets from stand-off ranges," the bureau said in a statement.
     
IAF Su 30MKI successfully test fires Brahmos cruise missile 640 001A screenshot of the IAF's video showing the first air-launched of the Brahmos ALCM
(Credit: Indian Air Force)
     
The BRAHMOS ALCM is the heaviest weapon integrated with the Su-30MKI`s armament suite, as it has a weight of 2.5 t. To carry such a missile, the fighter jet was modified. Therefore, the BRAHMOS missile can be launched by aerial, naval and ground platforms of India`s Armed Forces. It has a strike range of 290 km and can carry conventional warhead up to 300 kg.

"The Minister of Defense Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organization [DRDO] and the BrahMos Aerospace company on the occasion of this outstanding achievement. The Chairman of DRDO S Christopher joined in the expression of congratulation," the bureau added.

The CEO of BrahMos Aerospace Sudhir Mishra, senior IAF officials and DRDO scientists attended the test.

At the Dubai Airshow 2017, the Joint Managing Director of the BrahMos Aerospace company on the Russian side Alexander Maksichev told the TASS news agency that the deliveries of the BRAHMOS ALCMs to the Indian military would start in January 2018. "IAF has sealed the contract for the delivery of the BRAHMOS ALCMs since January 2018. The missiles are intended for nearly 50 Su-30MKI fighter jets modified to carry the ALCMs," he said. Maksichev added that two certification launches of the BRAHMOS ALCM against a sea-based target and a ground-based target, respectively, would be conducted before the year-end.

IAF has modified two Su-30MKI fighters to carry the BRAHMOS air-launched cruise missile. The modernization of the remaining aircraft will start after the introduction of the missile into service.
     
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