While the Indian Army and Indian Navy have already inducted the land and naval version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will still have to wait for the air version. The work on the fitting of the missile on the Russian-built Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets is presently underway.
Model of the air version of BrahMos on display at DefExpo
Defence Express spoke to a key official in the programme who informed that there are four elements in the air-version of the BrahMos. Listed below are the four elements and the respective stages they are in.
1. Missile - The air version of the missile which is shorter than the other variants is already ready.
2. Launcher - The releasing equipment is presently under trial. It is being manufactured by the Trivendrum wing of BrahMos.
3. Aircraft Modification - The underbelly of the Sukhoi aircraft needs to be strengthened to allow it to carry the missile. The design made by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for the aircraft made under the supervision of BrahMos has already been approved. The first two aircraft will soon be modified.
4. Fire Control System - It is being prepared by BrahMoS
If the trial of the BrahMos air version by the modified Sukhoi aircraft is successful, then the changes will be incorporated by Russia at design stage only.
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