Saturday, August 8, 2009

India, Russia close to final testing of air-launched BrahMos

MOSCOW

MOSCOW: Indian and Russian scientists are close to final development and testing of the air-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise
missile.

A top Russian defence official said a new takeoff engine for launching of the missile in air and at extreme high altitudes had been developed.

Alexander Leonov, director of the Russian Machine Building Research and Production Centre, said: "we are ready for test launches."

Leonov was quoted as saying by the Itar-Tass news agency that the initial test firing of the missile would be undertaken from the Sukhoi-30 MKI, but did not specify the exact dates.

After testing, the IAF would be launch customers for the air launched BrahMos cruise missile, which will make the Indian Air Force, the only force in Asia to have such a capability.

The BrahMos is already inducted in its ship to shore role and land-to-land versions in the Indian Navy and Army.

Leonov for the first time disclosed that Moscow and New Delhi were also "very close" to designing and testing of the submarine launched version of the BrahMos missile.
TOI

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