India to test fire BrahMos supersonic missile in December
NEW DELHI, – India is likely to test fire its supersonic cruise missile BrahMos this in December, Defense Ministry sources said Sunday.
“The 290-km range BrahMos would be test fired from submarines in the middle of December this year. The test firing would be done of fthe coast of the eastern Indian state of Orissa. However, the exact date is yet to be scheduled,” the sources said.
The BrahMos project is a joint venture between India’s Defense Research and Development Organization and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroeyenia who have together formed the BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited.
The supersonic missile travels at the speed of Mach 2.5 to 2.8 and is the world’s fastest cruise missile.
It is about three-and-a-half times faster than the subsonic Harpoon cruise missile of the United States. A hypersonic version of the missile is also presently under development.
BrahMos claims to have the capability of attacking surface targets as low as 10 meters in altitude. It can gain a speed of Mach 2.8, and has a maximum range of 290 km.
The ship-launched and land-based missiles can carry a 200-kilogram warhead, whereas the aircraft-launched variant (BrahMos A) can carry a 300-kilogram warhead. (Xinhua)
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