New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to test the air launched version of the supersonic missile BrahMos from a Sukhoi aircraft. The IAF plans to use the missile to destroy enemy targets just like how the Indian jets destroyed Balakot terror camps.
The missile will be made lighter than its usual weight for the Sukhoi jet to carry it more effectively. The air version of BrahMos missiles will be a shot in the arm of the Defence forces because of the missiles strike capability and lethality.
The final process of integrating the missile with the Sukhoi jets will be complete by 2020. With serious threats facing the nation, the IAF considers this project as very important.
An Indian government official said, “It is a very important project considering IAF’s evolving requirement to boost air power when the possibility of a two-front war cannot be ruled out.”
Till recently, two Su-30 MKI fighters are converted to fire the 2.5 ton supersonic air-to-surface missile. However, the weight of the missile makes it impossible for the Su-30 MKI to carry only a single missile on board. The IAF has conducted many tests of the BrahMos-A in 2016 and 2017.
The IAF has plans to have 40 Su-30 MKI’s fitted with BrahMos missiles to carry our long range standoff strikes against the enemy.
