India carried out vertical launch of BrahMos missile

22.03.2010
Indian Navy has successfully performed shipborne launch of supersonic missile BrahMos from the Bay of Bengal off Orissa state, informs Rediff News. The missile was launched from vertical position and hit an "enemy" ship also located in the Bay of Bengal.

Launch of BrahMos missile was carried out under test program conducted by Indian Navy. Upon results of test launches, there will be a decision of mass commission of the supersonic antiship missile. According to Indian military, numerous ships will be equipped with vertical launch tubes for BrahMos missiles. In particular, each Project 11356 Talwar frigate built in Russia will be armed with eight BrahMos missiles.

Several BrahMos missiles have been commissioned into Indian Army and Navy. Presently, BrahMos Aerospace develops a hypersonic missile which speed is going to be at least five times higher than sound speed. Such missile would be almost non-interceptable. Furthermore, an air-based version of BrahMos missile is also under development. Presumably, such missile would be commissioned into Indian Air Force in 2012.

BrahMos missiles are created by Russo-Indian joint venture company BrahMos Aerospace. According to the company, the backlog of orders for the missile values up to $1 bln. It is expected that by 2016 about 1,000 missiles would be produced in various versions; almost half of them would be exported. Max speed of BrahMos missile will be three times higher than sound speed reaching 3,500 kph.

Source: Lenta.Ru, photo: BrahMos missiles (acig.org)