The Hindu : Front Page : BrahMos launch successful

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 14, 2004

Front Page

Front Page

BrahMos launch successful

By T.S. Subramanian

UP AND AWAY: The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile blasts off from a mobile launcher at the interim test range in Orissa on Sunday. The seventh test-flight of the anti-ship missile was successful despite bad weather. — Photo: Defence Research Development Organisation

CHENNAI, JUNE 13. The seventh flight of BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, took place successfully today from the interim test range at Chandipur-on-sea. The anti-ship missile, which flies at 2.8 times the speed of sound and can take out targets 290 km away, was launched at 12-15 p.m. It stands eight-metres tall, weighs three tonnes, and carries a conventional 200 kg warhead.

This is the first BrahMos missile to be integrated and checked out at the huge BrahMos Integration Complex (BIC) situated on the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) campus, Hyderabad. "This is the first to be produced in the Hyderabad complex," a source in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said. A consortium of major industries in India and Russia are manufacturing various systems, sub-systems and components needed for assembling this sophisticated missile. Today's flight was that of an Army version of the missile. It was launched vertically from a container on a mobile autonomous launcher, with a fire-control system developed by a firm in Chennai.

The launch took place in cyclonic weather off Orissa's coast. It was raining heavily and high-speed winds were blowing. Yet the DRDO managed a successful launch.

When contacted, A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, said the flight met all its mission objectives. What added to its success was that the flight took place when the weather was bad, Dr. Sivathanu Pillai said.

DRDO sources said the instrumentation at the interim test range tracked the missile as it flew a distance of 290 km over the sea.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News Update

Stories in this Section

Open doors for mole recruitment

BrahMos launch successful

Not removing Modi was a mistake, says Vajpayee

Arjun awaits IIM boards' decision

Pilgrimage suspended

Six pilgrims die in landslips

BARC probing Akhtar's `links' with scientists

12 killed in attack

Abducted

RAW official commits suicide

Switzerland holds Croatia