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| India-Pakistan |
| India claims new first for world’s fastest cruise missile |
| 2019-05-23 |
| [ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] India said the world’s fastest cruise missile passed another key test Wednesday when it successfully hit a land target after being fired from a fighter jet. India is developing the supersonic BrahMos missile ‐ which has a top speed of 3,450 kilometers per hour ‐ with Russia, and according to media reports wants to soon start selling it abroad. The missile is one-and-a-half times faster than the old Concorde supersonic jet. The Indian defense ministry said a specially converted Su-30 MKI fighter jet successfully fired the 2.5-tonne missile, which has a range of about 300 kilometers. "The launch from the aircraft was smooth and the missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the land target," a ministry statement said. It did not say where the test was staged or give other details apart from saying "very complex" mechanical, electrical and software modifications were made to the Russian-origin fighter jet. The first test on a sea target was staged in November 2017. India said then it was the first country "to have successfully fired an air-launched 2.8 Mach surface attack missile of this category on a sea target". "The BrahMos missile provides Indian Air Force a much-desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions," the ministry said. India has already ordered sea-launched versions of the missile for its navy, and specialist defense media reports have said the BrahMos could start being introduced to the air force from 2020. BrahMos is a joint venture between India and Russia and officials from the enterprise have said at recent international air shows that discussions on sales are being held with a number of countries. Media reports have said Southeast Asian countries have expressed particular interest, which could worry China. India and Russia are reported to be preparing plans for a longer-range version of the missile which could fly at up to Mach 5, or 6,125 kilometers per hour. BrahMos is named for the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers of India and Russia respectively. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 The BrahMos is a follow on to the Soviet "Carrier Killer" (SS-N-19 Shipwreck and SS-N-22 Sunburn) missiles and had a simple purpose: "Fire the Missile and who cares if the launching ship gets sunk almost immediately afterwards?" Seems more useful to the Chinese than the Indians... |
| Posted by: magpie 2019-05-23 15:32 |
| #3 It's currently built to carry conventional HE warheads up to 300 kgs. India is still developing the BrahMos II which shall have a Nuclear warhead configuration apart from other innovative configs introduced by the Russians. Pakistain ? It cannot organize a proper response to even lowly Indian Migs dropping off smart bombs. Their US donated Falcon got shot down by humble Mig27 Bison. Brahmos are Mach 3 projectiles. The Brahmos was made to overwhelm the Chinese BDM capability. Pakistain poses a threat only if China backs their play. Without China, Pakistain is as good as a crater. Before it changed sugar daddies, India was wary of the US supporting it in conflict. Now it's the Chinese. We develop our capabilities to the specifications of whatever poses the real danger. |
| Posted by: Dron66046 2019-05-23 14:58 |
| #2 Can it carry an Indian nuke warhead? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2019-05-23 12:24 |
| #1 This means they can hit places in Pakistan before Pakistan can organize a response? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2019-05-23 12:23 |