India's supersonic cruise missile BrahMos test fired under extreme conditions

India's supersonic cruise missile BrahMos was test fired at 10.18 AM from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha, today (July 16) under extreme conditions.

The missile was launched from the launch complex three of the ITR and successfully flew in its pre-set trajectory meeting its mission objectives, Defence Research and Development (DRDO) sources said.

Today's test launch comes close on the heels of two trials of BrahMos missile conducted on May 21 and 22 this year in which the major sub-systems manufactured indigenously under the 'Make in India' campaign were tested, they said.


Through this spate of trials the critical indigenous components including fuel management system and other non-metallic airframe components have qualified to form part of the missile, the sources said.

The missile was successfully test fired on May 21 from the ITR as part of service life extension programme.

"The life extension test firing of BrahMos was conducted from a Static Inclined Launcher, proving the efficacy and longevity of the system which was witnessed by scientists," the sources had earlier said

As ET had earlier reported, BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and NPOM of Russia, is responsible for designing, developing and producing the missile.

The test-firing to "validate service life extension" of the missile will take place from a test range at Chandipur in Odisha in the third week of July, Sudhir Kumar Mishra, chief of BrahMos Aerospace, had told PTI

"Recently, we demonstrated the vertical dive capability of BrahMos. This can be used against targets in mountains and also against aircraft carriers," he said.

A version of the missile with vertical launch capability for use in mountainous areas and against aircraft carriers will be ready soon, Mishra said, adding that a lighter version of air-launched BrahMos is at the drawing board stage.

The missile can cruise at speeds of up to Mach 3.0, or three times the speed of sound.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)