BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from on board of recently inducted guided missile destroyer INS Kochi off the western coast.

Test: It was overall 49th trial of the BrahMos missile. It successfully hit decommissioned target ship “Alleppey” which was stationed 290 km away after performing high-level and complex manoeuvres.

Comment

  • This successful test provides much-needed teeth to INS Kochi which is one of the India’s most modern indigenous destroyers, making it another lethal platform of Indian Navy.
  • BrahMos as the prime strike weapon of the destoroyer will ensure its invincibility in engaging long range targets in seas.

INS Kochi

  • 7,500-tonne indigenously developed warship and was inducted into Indian Navy on September 30, 2015.
  • It has new design concepts for stealth, manoeuvrability and survivability.
  • It can carry total 16 BrahMos missiles in two 8-cell vertical launch systems along with other modern weapons and sensors.

About BrahMos missile

  • BrahMos supersonic cruise missile designed and developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture of India and Russia.
  • Missile’s name has been derived from the names of two rivers, India’s Brahmaputra River and Russia’s Moskva River.
  • It is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against sea and land targets.

Features:

  • It is capable of carrying a warhead of 300 kilogram and can be launched from ships, land and submarines.
  • It has top supersonic speed of Mach 2.8. It can strike a target at maximum range of 290-km.
  • It is two-stage missile, the first one being solid and the second one ramjet liquid propellant.