Enhanced BrahMos missile test-fired

India on Sunday test-fired supersonic BrahMos missile from the Interim Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha’s Balasore district.

Official sources said the cruise missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, was test fired at 10:35 am from a mobile launcher parked on the launch pad number three of the Defence Research and Development Organisation-run premier missile testing centre.

The important missile has already been inducted into the Indian armed forces. The Sunday’s test was an “user trial” of the missile.

Considered to be one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world, BrahMos has the capability to hit a target at a distance of 290 to 300 km carrying conventional warheads up to 300 kg.  The 8.4-metre-long missile, which weighs about three tonne, was inducted into the Army and Navy in 2004 and 2006 respectively.

The missile, however, is yet to be inducted into the Indian Air Force. The air force version of the missile is in advance stage of development and would be ready for induction after a successful trial in the coming days, defence sources said.