Date:20/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/20/stories/2008032059361300.htm

National

BrahMos underwater test firing this year

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The test firing of BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile, from underwater is targeted for 2008-end and from air by 2009-end, according to A. Sivathanu Pillai, BrahMos Aerospace CEO and Managing Director.

Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of the third Nanotechnology Conclave 2008 on Wednesday, he said they had test fired BrahMos from ship to ship, ship to land, land to ship and land to land. They are currently discussing with the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Russia and the Indian Navy to identify the platform for test firing the missile from underwater.

“The missile is fully ready. What we need is a platform... Once the missile is fitted into a submarine, we need it for a longer duration and hence we can’t take it from others. The underwater test firing is not in the programme, but we are gearing up for 2008-end,” Dr. Pillai said.

Suitable launcher

The air missile is also ready for test firing and BrahMos is scouting for a suitable launcher. “We have already brought down the weight of the missile to 2.5 tonne from 3 tonne by making structural changes. We are looking for a universal launcher that suits any type of aircraft.”