NEW DELHI, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday successfully test fired the air-launched version of "BrahMos" missile from its frontline "Su-30 MKI" fighter aircraft, said the country's defence ministry in an official statement.
The launch was smooth and the missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the land target, said the statement.
It's a 2.5-ton supersonic air-to-surface cruise missile with ranges of close to 300 km, designed and developed by BAPL, said the official statement.
The air launched "BrahMos" missile provides the IAF a much desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions. The capability of the missile coupled with the superlative performance of the "Su-30MKI" aircraft gives the IAF the desired strategic reach.
The Ministry of Defence also claimed the IAF became the first air force in the world to have successfully fired an air launched "2.8 Mach" surface attack missile of this category on a sea target in November 2017.
Wednesday's was the second such live launch of the weapon, added the ministry's statement.
