BrahMos Missile Achieves High Accuracy Against Hidden Land Targets

BrahMos cruise missile accomplishes the supersonic steep dive capability against difficult land targets. | BrahMos Aerospace
BrahMos cruise missile accomplishes the supersonic steep dive capability against difficult land targets. | BrahMos Aerospace

BALASORE: In a historical first, supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, with advanced guidance system and indigenously built software algorithm, was successfully test fired in steep dive mode from a defence base off the Odisha coast on Tuesday. This nuclear capable missile is a joint venture of India and Russia.

Defence sources said the missile was blasted off at around 10.38 am from a mobile autonomous launcher (MAL) located in the launching complex - III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea, about 15 km from Balasore. The launcher has been prepared by the BrahMos third regiment of Indian Army team.

The mission control room went into ruptures as the missile pierced into the sky spewing thick smoke and fire. The missile flew in the designated complex trajectory demonstrating high manoeuvres and steep dive. The mission using most of the new desi software was executed with high precision.

Managing Director and CEO of BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) A Sivathanu Pillai confirmed that it was a text book launch achieving 100 percent results. This development flight trial, making world record, has proved three key aspects for the success of the mission.

"The missile system integrated with multiple navigation satellites powered by new software algorithm, without homing device, achieved high level of accuracy and further enhancing the precision capability against hidden land targets including mountainous regions," he said.

This weapon during the flight test also accomplished the supersonic steep dive capability against difficult land targets besides realising airframe, both composite and metallic, built by the Indian industries which were tested and evaluated and altogether provided substantial increase of indigenously produced content in the missile.

All telemetry and tracking stations including naval ships near terminal point have tracked the missile all along its pre-designated path. "With this success, BrahMos has become the only supersonic cruise missile possessing this advanced capability in the world providing an edge to the user with precise hit," Pillai stated.

This was the 44th launch of BrahMos which was carried out with high level of reliability. About 205 Indian industries have come in a big way by significantly contributing their knowhow and expertise in realising this weapon system.

Indigenous airframe produced by L&T and Godrej, guidance system by HAL, OBC, MIU by Ananth Technologies Ltd, Electronics industries, software development and guidance scheme by DRDO/RCI have been proved in the flight increasing the content from Indian industries.

The missile's successful launch is expected to give a boost to the ongoing programme of future installations of the weapon system in the Indian Army against hidden land targets for mountain warfare operations.

The BrahMos missile, the fastest in the world, has a flight range of up to 290 km and carries a conventional warhead of 200 to 300 kg, thus delivering with high-precision, devastating power at supersonic speed.

The land based weapon complex comprises four to six mobile autonomous launchers controlled by a mobile command post (MCP) and a mobile replenishment vehicle (MRV). The Army and Navy have already inducted the missile system. The launch of the missile's air-version integrated with Su-30MKI will be carried out by the end of this year.

BrahMos missile, which derives its name from the Brahmaputra and Moskova rivers, was developed by an Indo-Russian joint venture after the two countries signed an agreement in February 1998. The nine meter long missile can travel at a speed of Mach 2.8.

BrahMos Fire Power

- Achieved high level of accuracy with multiple navigation satellites integrated with advanced software, without homing device, thus enabling pinpoint accuracy and further enhancing the precision capability against hidden land targets including mountainous regions

- Accomplished the supersonic steep dive capability against difficult land targets

- Realised airframe, both composite and metallic, built by the Indian industries which were tested and evaluated and altogether provided substantial increase of indigenously produced content in the missile

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