By Vaibhav Agrawal
On Saturday, the accuracy of an extended-range land-attack BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully demonstrated by the Indian Navy from the stealth destroyer INS Chennai.
Indian Navy officials added that after traversing an extended range trajectory and performing complex manoeuvres, the missile hit its intended target with pinpoint accuracy. Highlighting the cutting-edge of Indian missile and shipbuilding prowess, both BrahMos missile and INS Chennai are indigenously built. Officials stated that they reinforce the Indian Navy’s contribution towards Make in India.
The air version of the BrahMos missile was tested in December last year when it was fired by supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30 MK-I. Clearing the stage for the serial production of the air version of the BrahMos missiles within the country, the successful test-fire of the fighter jet was a significant milestone while the test was carried out from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
However, Indian Navy officials say that the recent test states the naval capability to strike much deeper and influence land operations further away from the sea as and when needed.
Although BrahMos was inducted into the Indian Army and the Navy in 2006, the air-launch version has proved much more versatile. The air-missile is fast and has pinpoint accuracy, unlike the warship version of the missile, which is slow-moving.
