India performed two successive test firings of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile on 21st and 22nd May from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Balasore, Odisha.
India has performed two successive test firings of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile on 21st and 22nd May. Both tests were carried out from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Balasore, Odisha.
The first test, conducted from a Static Inclined Launcher, was part of the Brahmos service life extension programme, which is targeting an increase in the missile's service life from 10 to 15 years. The missile is reported to have flown its designated trajectory and key components are said to have functioned perfectly.
In the second test the following day, the missile was launched from a Mobile Autonomous Launcher (MAL), again successfully flying its pre-set trajectory and fulfilling mission objectives.
The second test was designed to evaluate major subsystems manufactured indigenously under the “Make in India” campaign, including the fuel management system and other non-metallic airframe components.
The missile has been developed by Brahmos Aerospace, a joint venture between DRDO of India and NPOM of Russia. It is already operational with the Indian Army and Navy. The air-launched variant was test fired for the first time from an Indian Air Force Su-30MKI in November 2017.