‘Direct hit’: Indian Air Force test fires BrahMos missile from Sukhoi-30 fighter Jet

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday successfully test-fired a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi fighter jet on the Eastern seaboard in demonstrating its operational preparedness.

The Indian Air Force said that the “live firing” of the missile was carried out in close coordination with the Indian Navy. The missile hit the target with accuracy and precision, officials said.

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In a tweet, the IAF said, “Today on the Eastern seaboard, #IAF undertook live firing of #BrahMos missile from a Su30 MkI aircraft. The missile achieved a direct hit on the target, a decommissioned #IndianNavy ship. The mission was undertaken in close coordination with @indiannavy.”

In 2016, the government had decided to integrate the air-launched variant of the Brahmos into over 40 Sukhoi fighter jets.

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The project was conceived to enhance the IAF’s capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target on sea or land.

Last month, the Indian Navy successfully test-fired an advanced version of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile from a stealth destroyer in the Indian Ocean. The missile was test-fired from the stealth destroyer INS Chennai.

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BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.

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BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound.