Antiship missile BrahMos to have new software for in-flight supersonic maneuvers

24.03.2010
Antiship missile BrahMos successfully tested in Bay of Bengal off Orissa state is equipped with state-of-the-art software. Thank to advanced soft capabilities, the missile executes in-flight supersonic maneuvers, informs today ARMS-TASS citing Alexander Dergachev, Director General of BrahMos Aerospace.

According to him, the missile test launch was performed when delivery ceremony of destroyer Ranvir built on the basis of Russian Project 61ME large ASW ship Nadezhny which was fundamentally upgraded. The ship's missile armament includes BrahMos with advanced software; that significantly increases the missile's operational effectiveness while used in littoral zone with huge number of islands. In particular, if attacked ship tries to use natural terrain relief and hide behind an island, the missile would be capable to execute maneuvers at supersonic speed and hit the target flying around the obstacle.

"The recent launch test proved effectiveness of vertical launch concept for BrahMos missile. Launched by this method, the missile can attack any target detected within circular coverage area of shipborne radars and located at any angle to defended ship. Besides, built-in vertical launch system (VLS) placed under ship's deck is low-observable", pointed out A. Dergachev.

Missile launch from INS Ranvir has become the 22nd in BrahMos program and third launch made by the ship. The missile was launched from new 8-tube VLS located in aft part. After vertical launch, the missile turned towards the target, detected it and directly hit it having executed a number of maneuvers at supersonic speed. The target was small-size dummy ship.

Design of the VLS was jointly developed and patented by Russian and Indian experts. Currently, it is mounted in Indian Project 61ME destroyers INS Rajput and INS Ranvir; other two ships of the project – INS Ranjit and INS Ranvijay soon will be also equipped with such VLS during full upgrade.

In addition, BrahMos VLS will be also mounted in three Indian Calcutta-class destroyers which are being built at Mazagon Docks Ltd. shipyard under Project-15A, and also in three new Indian Project 11356 frigates which are under construction at Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad, Russia).

Source: ARMS-TASS, photo: antiship missile BrahMos (topnews.in)