DRDO successfully test-fires BRAHMOS land attack version

New Delhi: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired the land attack version of BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile off Odisha coast on Monday. The missile features Indian propulsion system, airframe, power supply and other major components that have been manufactured indigenously.

The missile was successfully test-fired from ITR, Chandipur in Odisha for its full range of 290-km. The launch was jointly conducted by DRDO and BrahMos Aerospace, a press release said.

‘BRAHMOS success milestone for Make in India’

“With this successful mission, the indigenous content in the formidable weapon has reached a high value, thus bolstering India’s defence indigenisation and the flagship ‘Make in India’ programme,” the statement said. DG (BRAHMOS) Dr Sudhir Kumar Mishra, Director DRDL Dr Dashrath Ram and ITR Director Dr BK Das coordinated and witnessed the entire mission at the launch site. They termed the successful flight test as a landmark achievement in enhancing India’s “Make in India” capabilities.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated team DRDO, BrahMos and Industries for the successful mission. Jointly developed by India and Russia, the versatile BRAHMOS has been operationalised in the Indian Armed Forces with all the three services.

The backdrop

The first test of BRAHMOS extended-range was carried out on March 11, 2017. The extended-range missile can be fired from land as well as sea-based platforms. It is capable of carrying a conventional warhead of 200 to 300 kilograms. The 450-km range BRAHMOS will carry the same amount of fuel as the 290-km version and it will be able to travel a much greater distance due to better fuel efficiency. According to DRDO, this has been achieved by the new computer-controlled injector system that has been programmed to regulate the fuel's flow into the engine's combustor.