Thaindian News

New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS) India Friday successfully conducted the user trial of a BrahMos supersonic guided missile capable of hitting targets that may otherwise be inaccessible like in hilly areas, defence ministry sources said.

The trial was conducted in Pokhran in the Thar desert region of Rajasthan.

The test met all the mission parameters, said the sources.

The launch was the 25th launch of BrahMos missile for the Indian Army. The version of BrahMos that was tested can be guided through mountainous terrain to hit the targets that may be located in hillocks.

It is a stealth supersonic cruise missile that can be launched for ground targets from a very low height - as low as 10 metres. It is believed to be best for surgical operations as it has a very low radar signature.

The BrahMos missile has a range of 290 km and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg.

It has a top speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster than the US subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile. This makes BrahMos one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world.

BrahMos Aerospace Ltd, set up in 1998 as a joint venture of India and Russia, manufactures supersonic cruise missiles based on the Russian-designed NPO Mashinostroyenie 3M55 Yakhont.

It can be launched from submarines, ships and aircraft. Sea- and ground-launched versions of the missile have been successfully tested and put into service with the Indian Army and navy.