India successfully tests land and air versions of BrahMos missile

Two BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles were successfully test-fired from land and air platforms on Tuesday, defence officials said.

According to the officials, the land-attack missile was fired from a mobile launcher at a base off the coast of Odisha by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and targeted a ship.

"It was launched with most of the indigenous components including Missile Airframe, Fuel Management System and DRDO-designed Seeker," they said.

The air version of the missile was launched by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Sukhoi-30MKI and it also successfully hit a target in the sea. "The test conducted in user configuration revalidated the ship attack capability of the advanced air-launched cruise missile," the officials said.

A medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos can be launched from submarines, ships, fighter jets, or land. The missile has been developed as a joint venture between the DRDO and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia.

The Air Force had successfully fired BrahMos air version missile from Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft in May.

In November, the Indian Navy successfully test-fired the 290-km strike range Brahmos supersonic cruise missile in the Arabian Sea.

A BrahMos missile featuring Indian propulsion system, airframe, power supply, and other major indigenous components, was successfully test-fired from ITR, Chandipur in Odisha in September this year.