‘BrahMos increases strike range’

The successful test of the air-launched BrahMos cruise missile greatly enhances India’s strike range not just on the borders but across the Indian Ocean, a senior official intimately involved in the project said.

The successful test of the air-launched BrahMos cruise missile greatly enhances India’s strike range not just on the borders but across the Indian Ocean, a senior official intimately involved in the project said.

“China is increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean to safeguard its critical energy lanes. If fired [BrahMos] from Andaman and Nicobar islands, the whole of Malacca Straits gets within striking range. With BrahMos now on Su-30MKIs even Gwadar gets compromised. It gives striking range,” the official said on Thursday.

The air-launched version of the BrahMos was successfully tested for the first time on Wednesday from a modified Su-30MKI of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

An officer observed that the BrahMos inherently gave the capability to strike deep across the borders to take on high value targets without crossing the border. “With the air variant, the strike envelope is further widened and can be executed at short notice,” the officer added.