Supersonic cruise missile BrahMos was on Thursday successfully flight-tested for the first time with an indigenous seeker. So far, the seeker, a critical technology in missiles, had come from Russia.
“Formidable supersonic cruise missile BrahMos was successfully flight tested at 8:42 AM today at Pokhran test range, Rajasthan. The precision strike weapon with Indian-made seeker flew in its designated trajectory and hit the target with pin-point accuracy,” the Defence Ministry said on Twitter.
The seeker was developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO labs.
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Technology, a closely guarded secret
The seeker technology, which determines the accuracy of a missile, is a closely guarded secret. Mastering it is a significant milestone in missile technology and would reduce import dependence.
BrahMos is a joint collaboration between India and Russia and the missile is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against surface and sea-based targets.
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Its range was initially capped at 290 km as per obligations of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Since India’s entry into the club, the range has been extended to 450 km and the plan is to increase it to 600km.
The Army and Navy have already inducted the missile, while the air-launched version was test-fired for the first time last year from a modified Su-30MKI aircraft.