BrahMos `sub' test likely from Vizag next month

BrahMos `sub' test likely from Vizag next month

BALASORE: After the successful test-firing of the `Army' version of surface-to-surface missile BrahMos, Defence scientists are planning to conduct the first-ever test of its submarine version shortly.According to a top Defence scientist, the success of the test will be a watershed in Indian Defence programme. “The submarine version of BrahMos is ready to be tested, but we are actually waiting for the platform,” A Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace Limited, said.Pillai was here to witness the successful test of the Army version of the supersonic cruise missile.Reliable source told this paper that the missile would be tested as early as next month from Visakhapatnam. Scientists are on a high after tasting success in the test-firing of `Asta' and Dhanush missiles in March and April. While the test of Astra missile in two rounds had successfully met all mission parameters, the successful trial of Dhanush from a naval ship was a great experience for the scientists.India's most powerful intermediate range Agni-III missile also was successfully tested earlier this month.The sources said BrahMos Aerospace has already started talks with Indian Navy to get a kilo-class submarine on loan to launch the missile from under the sea. “The submarine variants alternatively could be tested in Russian waters from a Russian submarine,” sources revealed.For the air-launch version, the missile would be integrated with Sukhoi MKI multi-role fighter aircraft. BrahMos is currently being configured for aerial deployment with the Su-30 MKI as its carrier.The air-launch version has a smaller booster and additional tail-fins for stability during launch.Sources further said the missile had already been inducted into the Navy. After the Navy, which has procured the missile for its warships, the Army will be the second major customer to add the missile to its arsenal.“The BrahMos, with a range of 290 km and Mach 3 speed, will be inducted into the Army this year,” Pillai said. “We are going to deliver the missile to the Army this year as orders have been placed with us,” the CEO said.Many countries have also evinced interest in the missile, which has no equivalent in the world in terms of precision, speed and power, he added.