BrahMos cruise missile test-fired
PTI
BALASORE (Orissa), SEPT 5
Bolstering its defence capabilities, India today successfully test-fired an “advanced manoeuvrable” version of the 290-km range BrahMos cruise missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off Orissa coast.
“User’s trial of BrahMos conducted by the Indian Army was successful,” ITR Director S P Dash said after the missile blasted off from a mobile launcher at around 11:35 AM from the complex-3 of the test range near here.
The trial of the “advanced maneuverable” version of BrahMos Block-II was conducted for achieving the maximum range of 290 km of the supersonic missile, he said.
The missile can fly at 2.8 times the speed of sound carrying conventional warheads up to 300 kg for a range of 290 km and can effectively engage ground targets from an altitude as low as 10 metres.
“The missile met all the specified parameters. The test-firing makes India the only country in the world to possess a cruise missile capable of performing steep supersonic dives and attack targets at difficult angles,” Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) officials said.
“The missile flew in the designated complex trajectory conducting large manoeuvres and steep dives”, they said.
Defence Minister A K Antony congratulated the army and defence scientists associated with the project following the successful launch.
The test-firing was witnessed among others by Director General of Artillery Lt. Gen. Vinod Nayanar and BrahMos chief A Sivathanu Pillai.
