India is currently developing a new air-borne version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile which will increase the strike range to target enemy installations at more than 800 km.
“The range of the BrahMos missile has been increased already and with the advantage of being airborne at high altitudes, the missile can travel a longer distance and can hit targets at 800 kms and beyond,” ANI quoted its sources as saying.
Currently, Brahmos-A, which is a remodified air-borne version of the supersonic missile, has a range of 500km and can be launched from the India Air Force’s Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
In November 2017, the missile was successfully fired from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI for the first time. This was tested against a sea-based target.
40 of IAF’s Sukhoi Su-30MKI combat aircrafts have been equipped with BrahMos. These jets were brought to the Northern sector from its base in Thanjavur during the China-India border standoff.
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BrahMos is currently the world’s fastest Anti-Ship missile in service. The Land-launched and ship-launched missiles are also in service.
A hypersonic version of the Brahmos-II is currently under development. The speed of the hypersonic version is said to be Mach7-8.
Recently, India “accidently” launched a supersonic missile into Pakistani territory on March 9. This resulted in a strong protest from Pakistan who asked for a joint probe into the incident.
The missile is speculated to be BrahMos.
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Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Sunday said that Islamabad observed restraint after the missile struck, even though his country could have responded to the incident. The missile landed in Pakistan’s Punjab province near Mian Channu.
The cause of the incident was said to be a “malfunction” which ended up sending the missile into Pakistani territory. “The Government of India has taken a serious view and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry. It is learnt that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident,” the Ministry of Defence said in the release.
