Development BrahMos

1 development

1.1 surface surface variant
1.2 submarine-launched variant
1.3 ship-launched variant
1.4 air-launched variant

1.4.1 brahmos-a

development
surface surface variant

ins rajput firing brahmos missile

brahmos first test-fired on 12 june 2001 integrated test range (itr), chandipur in vertical launch configuration. on 14 june 2004, test conducted @ itr , brahmos fired mobile launcher. on 5 march 2008, land attack version of missile fired destroyer ins rajput , missile hit , destroyed right target among group of targets. vertical launch of brahmos conducted on 18 december 2008 ins ranvir. brahmos block-i army tested new capabilities in deserts of rajasthan, @ test range near pokharan in december 2004 , march 2007. during user trial on 20 january 2009, brahmos tested new navigation system failed hit target. brahmos aerospace corporation s director dr sivathanu pillai said, missile performance absolutely normal until last phase, missile missed target, though maintained direction. , problem in software, not hardware . defence research , development organisation (drdo) said there small hitches in last stage of test firing due delay in input of satellite navigation input inertial navigation system, missile traveled 112 seconds instead of slated 84 seconds , fell 7 km away target. according brahmos corporation, test of new missile conducted within 1 month, conducted on 4 march 2009 , deemed successful. brahmos test-fired again on 29 march 2009. test, missile had identify building among cluster of buildings in urban environment. brahmos hit intended target in 2 , half minutes of launch. according official sources, new seeker unique , hit our targets, insignificant in terms of size, in cluster of large buildings. india nation in world advanced technology after third test, lt gen noble thamburaj, said indian army wanted brahmos achieve high standards of accuracy , congratulated scientists on behalf of indian army. indian army confirmed test extremely successful , army absolutely satisfied missile. marking completion of development phase of brahmos block-ii, , ready induction.

on 21 march 2010, brahmos test-fired , struck free-floating ship piercing above waterline , destroying completely. test proved missile s ability manoeuvre @ supersonic speed before hitting target. 5 september 2010 test of brahmos created world record being first cruise missile tested @ supersonic speeds in steep-dive mode. missile test-fired integrated test range launching complex-3 (lc-3) @ chandipur around 11.35 am. launch, army s requirement land attacks block-ii advanced seeker software target discriminating capabilities met. brahmos became supersonic cruise missile possessing advanced capability of selection of particular land target amongst group of targets, providing edge user precise hit.

the block iii version of missile test-fired india on 2 december 2010 integrated test range (itr) @ chandipur off orissa coast. block iii had advanced guidance , upgraded software, incorporating high manoeuvres @ multiple points , steep dive high altitude. steep dive capability of block iii enables hit targets hidden behind mountain range. deployed in arunachal pradesh. can engage ground targets altitude low 10 meters surgical strikes out collateral damage. capable of being launched multiple platforms submarines, ships, aircraft , land based mobile autonomous launchers (mal). on 12 august 2011, test-fired ground forces , met mission parameters. test-fired indian army unit on 4 march 2012 @ pokharan range in rajasthan operationalise second regiment of weapon system in army. test attended senior army officials including vice chief lt. gen. shri krishna singh , director general military operations (dgmo) lt. gen. k chaudhary. test, second brahmos unit of indian army became operational.

brahmos missiles of indian army, mounted on tatra 816-based mobile autonomous launchers (mal).

another development test conducted on 29 july 2012 itr. 32nd test of missile. test deemed successful experimental point of view, did not meet mission parameters. test done evaluate more 25 sub-systems of missile produced indian industry, power systems, materials air frame components, guidance scheme , various electric systems. test data sent analysis , used large-scale indigenous production of missile. analysis revealed except 1 subsystem, other subsystems , components had performed per requirement. malfunction of 1 subsystem resulted in increase in velocity of missile, crossed limit , mission aborted. defect rectified , further development flight tests announced develop self-reliance.

on 7 october 2012, indian navy test-fired brahmos guided missile frigate ins teg. new highly manoeuvrable version fitted advanced satellite navigation systems turning super-rocket capable of hitting targets on 300–500 km sea, land , air launchers, , capable of carrying nuclear warhead.

on 7 april 2014, 1 of army s missile regiments tested modified , upgraded block-iii missile steep dive-cum-target discrimination mode suitable mountain warfare. capable of performing deep penetration strikes against hardened targets. variant deployed newly raised mountain strike corps @ panagarh in west bengal under eastern army command.

on 8 july 2014, brahmos aerospace conducted 44th test launch of missile itr target designated 290 km away. first test of missile in supersonic dive mode against hidden land target using new indian software algorithm , multiple satellite navigation systems guidance, without usual homing system. on 2 , 3 may 2017, indian army test fired 2 block iii versions of missile mobile autonomous launcher in top attack configuration andaman nicobar islands. new navigation system uses indian chip called g3om (gps, glonass, gagan on module). system weighs around 17 grams, , gives accuracy below 5 meters using indian, , russian navigation satellites. system can used in tandem , inertial navigation system (ins) provide high-accuracy targeting without using seeker.

submarine-launched variant

the submarine-launched variant of brahmos test fired first time submerged pontoon near visakhapatnam @ coast of bay of bengal on 20 march 2013. first vertical launch of supersonic missile submerged platform. missile can launched depth of 40 50 m (130 160 ft). in late january 2016, russia confirmed future indian-made submarines armed smaller version of missile fit inside torpedo tube.

ship-launched variant

the ship-launched land attack variant test fired on 21 april 2017 ins teg in bay of bengal.

air-launched variant

the air-launched version of brahmos.


brahmos-a

the brahmos-a modified air-launched variant of missile range of 400km can launched su-30mki standoff weapon. reduce missile s weight 2.55 tons, many modifications made using smaller booster, adding fins airborne stability after launch, , relocating connector. can released height of 500 14,000 meters (1,640 46,000 ft). after release, missile free falls 100–150 meters, goes cruise phase @ 14,000 meters , terminal phase @ 15 meters. brahmos aerospace planned deliver missile iaf in 2015, expected arm @ least 3 squadrons. su-30mki able carry 1 brahmos missile.

the missile planned arm indian navy s ilyushin il-38 , tupolev tu-142 maritime patrol , anti-submarine aircraft 6 missiles per aircraft, not made possible due insufficient ground clearance of il-38, high cost of modifying tu-142 , questionable benefits of modifying ageing fleet.

the air-launched version indian air force ready testing in 2008. expert committee drdo , indian air force (iaf) had ruled out structural modifications sukhoi su-30mki carry missile. on 22 october 2008, a. sivathanu pillai, chief controller, r&d, drdo , ceo , managing director of brahmos aerospace, announced trials , tests carried out 2011, , iaf own version of brahmos 2012.

on 10 january 2009, reported 2 indian air force su-30mki fighter jets sent russia retrofit program enable them launch missile. on 8 august 2009, alexander leonov, director of russian machine building research , production center, said ready test launches. said new takeoff engine launching of missile in air , @ extreme high altitudes had been developed, , initial test firing of missile undertaken su-30 mki, did not specify dates. on 26 february 2012, a. sivathanu pillai said air-launched version of brahmos being developed , tested end of 2012. version of brahmos missile use air breathing scramjet propulsion technology , more fuel efficient traditional rocket-powered missile.

the purchase of on 200 air-launched brahmos supersonic cruise missiles iaf cleared cabinet committee on security (ccs) on 19 october 2012, @ cost of ₹60 billion (us$936 million). include funds integration , testing of brahmos on su-30mki of iaf. per plan, first test of air-launched version of missile conducted december 2012. 2 su-30mki of iaf modified hal @ nashik facility integrated missile s aerial launcher.

a demonstration flight carried out @ hindustan aeronautics limited nashik on 25 june 2016 modified su-30mki carrying brahmos-a underwent successful trial flight, first time heavyweight supersonic cruise missile had been integrated on long-range fighter aircraft; project adapt weapon air launch approved in 2011, bogged down technology transfer , intellectual property rights concerns. carry missile, su-30mki undercarriage had strengthened, required new hard points , structural modifications. cost of adapting brahmos air launch phenomenal, efforts downsize missile abandoned after attempt reduce size of ramjet. on 22 november 2017, missile test fired first time sukhoi-30mki against sea based target in bay of bengal. 40 iaf su-30s equipped carry missile.