IAF conducts longest-range test of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from Sukhoi-30

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) declared that the BrahMos supersonic missile was successfully tested from the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet. It is claimed that the BrahMos missile hit the target at 400 kilometres in the Bay of Bengal with precision. This is the first time that the BrahMos missile hit the target located at such a distance after being launched from the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet. This is the third test of the BrahMos missile in the last one month, and the army version of the missile has already been deployed near the border in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

Only a few months ago, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced an increase in the range of the BrahMos missiles from 290 kilometres to 400 kilometres. It had also been informed that various tests have been completed of this new long-range version. Against this background, the test by the Indian Air Force becomes essential. It has been informed that the Sukhoi-30MKI took off from an airbase in Punjab for the test. Sources also clarified that the jet was refuelled mid-air before launching the missile.

This is the second missile test conducted by the Indian armed forces today. Before the testing by the Air Force, the Indian Navy conducted a successful test of an anti-ship missile in the morning. The anti-ship missile was tested from INS Kora, a Corvette in the Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal. The missile launched from INS Kora precisely hit the target ship. The Indian Navy has released the video of the test.

DRDO of India and Russian Aerospace company have jointly developed the BrahMos missile. The missile can be launched from the army’s mobile launchers as well as from the destroyers and submarines of the Navy and fighter jets of the IAF.