India to induct BrahMos into Navy

India to induct BrahMos into Navy

ThePakistaniNewspaper.com

NEW DELHI, May 04: Following a series of successful flight trials, the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has proved its efficacy against ship targets and is ready for induction in the Indian Navy.

Giving this information in the Rajya Sabha today, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said a Letter of Interest had been placed on BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited for installation of the missiles on certain ships of the Navy.

The BrahMos cruise missile -- believed to be the first supersonic anti-ship missile -- is designed to be able to attack surface targets from a low altitude of 10 meters, at a speed of Mach 2.8, from a range of 290 kms. The ship-launched missile has a 200kg warhead.

The high cruise and terminal speed of the BrahMos poses a significant challenge for the attacked target as it leaves ''significantly less time'' for deployment of countermeasures.

Following a series of test trials from 2001 through November 2003, the missile is being integrated into the Indian Navy.

BrahMos performed another series of Indian Navy acceptance tests in 2004, with a total of two launches of the anti-ship missile and a first launch of the surface-launched version tested on December 21, 2004.

The missile has been developed under a joint venture between India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) from Russia.