22-10-2020 | 20:12 PM
India successfully test-fires the naval version of BrahMos missile
Context
On October 18, the naval version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired from INS Chennai in the Arabian Sea.
Key highlights
The naval version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired from Indian Navy's indigenous stealth destroyer- INS Chennai in the Arabian Sea.
It did hit the target with pin-point accuracy after performing “extremely complex” manoeuvres.
As a prime strike weapon, BrahMos will ensure the invincibility of the warship by engaging long-range naval surface targets, making the destroyer another lethal Indian Navy platform.
The supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or from land platforms is produced by BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russia joint venture.
About BrahMos missile
BRAHMOS is the 1st supersonic cruise missile known to be in service.
It was developed as a joint venture of the Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) and NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia.
The missile has been named after the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.
The flight range of the missile is up to 290-km with supersonic speed all through the flight.
Stealth technology and guidance system with advanced embedded software provides the missile with special features.
BRAHMOS is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster engine as its first stage which brings it to supersonic speed and then gets separated.
The liquid ramjet or the second stage then takes the missile closer to 3 Mach speed in cruise phase.
It operates on ‘Fire and Forget Principle’, adopting varieties of flights on its way to the target.
Its destructive power is enhanced due to large kinetic energy on impact.
The cruising altitude could be up to 15 km and terminal altitude is as low as 10 meters.
It carries a conventional warhead weighing from 200 to 300 kilograms.
The missile has identical configuration for land, sea and sub-sea platforms.
The missile uses a Transport Launch Canister for transportation, storage and launch.
