India test launches BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

PanARMENIAN.Net - India test launched a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the Russian-built guided missile frigate Tarkash off the coast of Goa on Wednesday, May 22, RIA Novosti reported citing a defense ministry source.

“The missile performed a maneuver in the predetermined flight path and successfully hit the target,” the source said.

The Tarkash, Teg and Trikand, three modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates built by Russia under the 2006 contract, will be equipped with BrahMos missiles, he said.

The first two ships have already entered service with the Indian Navy, and the third is due to be delivered from Russia soon.

The BrahMos missile is based on the Russian-designed NPO Mashinostroyenie 3M55 Yakhont (SS-N-26) missile. It has a range of 290 km (180 miles) and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg (660 lbs). It can effectively engage targets from an altitude as low as 10 meters (30 feet) and has a top speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster than the US-made subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile.

India is also developing an air-launched variant of BrahMos for delivery by its Sukhoi Su-30MKI strike aircraft, as well as a submarine-launched variant.