BRAHMOS MISSILES FOR 40 SUKHOIS

Work has begun to integrate the Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

Work has begun to integrate the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on 40 Sukhoi-30 MKI combat jets, which is expected to fulfil the critical needs of the Indian Air Force given the region’s evolving security dynamics.

The air-launched variant of the BrahMos, the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile, was successfully test-fired from a Sukhoi-30 MKI jet on November 22, that was a major milestone in enhancing the precision strike capability of the IAF

Officials said with the work of integrating the BrahMos missile on 40 Sukhoi-30 jets already begun, a timeline for the project has been set, and it is expected to be completed by 2020.

The fleet of 40 Sukhoi-30 MKIs will undergo structural modifications at the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for integration of the missile. The 2.5-ton missile flies almost three times at the speed of sound at Mach 2.8, and has a range of 290 km. The range of the missile, an India-Russia joint venture, can be extended to 400 km.

The BrahMos missile is the heaviest weapon deployed on India’s Su-30 MKI fighters. Once the project to integrate the missiles on the combat aircraft is over, the IAF’s capability to strike from large standoff ranges on any target in sea or land is expected to go up manifold.