BrahMos test-fired, creates world record

BALASORE: Defence scientists created a world record on Sunday by flight testing the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos off the Orissa coast. It was for the first time that a cruisemissile was tested at supersonic speeds in a steep-dive mode. The missile wastest-fired from the integrated test rang launching complex-3 (LC-3) at Chandipuraround 11.35 am.Defence sources said the missile was tested by thearmed forces from a mobile autonomous launcher. "The missile took offsuccessfully and hit the desired target, meeting all mission parameters. It wasa fantastic launch; a 100% success," said ITR director S P Dash.Ascientist, who witnessed the test, said the advanced version of BrahMos Block-IIwas test fired this time. "The missile flew in the designated complex trajectoryincluding large manoeuvres and steep dive. This is the first time that asupersonic dive has been realised by a cruise missile," he said.Withthis launch, The army's requirement for land attacks with block-II advancedseeker software with target discriminating capabilities has been fully met. Thisversion is ready for induction."This will provide an enhancedcapability to the user for selection of a particular land target amongst a groupof targets. With this, BrahMos has become the only supersonic cruise missilepossessing advanced capability, providing an edge to the user with precise hit,"said an official.The missile, which derives its name from theBrahmaputra and Moskova rivers, was developed by an Indo-Russian joint ventureafter the two countries signed an agreement in February 1998. The 8.4m longmissile can hit a target at a distance up to 290km. The missile can travel atthree times the speed of sound and carry a conventional warhead weighing 200-300kg.