Indian Missiles News & Discussions - 17 Dec 2018

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 23 Nov 2020 11:38

The pictures appear to be of unshrouded HSTDV nose section.

Rishi_Tri · Post by **Rishi_Tri** » 23 Nov 2020 13:19

Vips wrote:Astra air combat missile to be soon tested from Tejas.

The all-weather day and night capable Astra, which currently has a strike range of around 100-km, will eventually replace the expensive Russian, French and Israeli BVRAAMs that are currently imported to arm IAF fighters.

DRDO also plans to begin testing the Mark-2 version of Astra, with a range of 160-km, in the first half of next year. Plans are concurrently underway for a 350-km range Astra Mark-3 as well, said the sources.

Day and Night Capable? -- Is it necessary to mention this? Are there missiles that fly only during night or day? Or are there missiles that are more effective during day or night?

350 km range - Well, why not repurpose 300 km Air launched Brahmos?

I know, ^ are stupid questions, but still!!

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 23 Nov 2020 23:03

https://twitter.com/strategic_front/sta ... 92872?s=20 ---> Notice that seam on Pic 1 of the HSTDV? That is probably the electronics bay housing the seeker & the GNC system. We don't know if this is the HSTDV model that was recently tested or a new one. Either way the HSTDV tech is headed for weaponization.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 23 Nov 2020 23:04

https://twitter.com/daeroplate_v2/statu ... 12641?s=20 ---> Good details on Astra Mk1 order and unit cost.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 23 Nov 2020 23:07

Folks are getting takleef over the unit cost of the Astra! WOW

https://twitter.com/Baaz1107/status/133 ... 84096?s=20 ---> That's $1 million a pop. More than AMRAAM C5. I know its economies of scale...blah...blah...but efficiency of cost needs to be looked at. 288 ain't a small order.

https://twitter.com/zone5aviation/statu ... 68576?s=20 ---> 288 is a *tiny* order in the grand scheme. Assuming this is missile cost alone, $1M ain’t half bad tho. Should continue to trend downward at least for the next couple of batches.

https://twitter.com/pegasus191/status/1 ... 23554?s=20 ---> It’s pathetically costly... no missile manufacturer amortizes the NRE costs over the first order. But we can bet that is exactly what the great administrative financial honchos from the one-exam wonder factory (UPSC) in DDP would have used in their costing!!!

https://twitter.com/zone5aviation/statu ... 64928?s=20 ---> If so, all but guarantees the subsequent batches will be substantially cheaper.

https://twitter.com/VCalhans/status/133 ... 32064?s=20 ---> "In September 2006, the USAF placed a $66m Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract to deliver 123 AIM-120C5 missiles for Saudi Arabia and Singapore." That's about $0.5m per C5 back in 2006. So $1m for each Astra ain't bad considering it's gonna come down.

https://twitter.com/Firezstarter1/statu ... 45283?s=20 ---> To put the production run and cost issue in perspective, we paid US $1.23 billion for 450 Micas. Mica has had a much larger production run than Astra (equips Mirage and Rafale fleet). Even discounting a part of the cost for testers, spares, the Astra is quite cost effective.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 23 Nov 2020 23:36

In the next test, HSTDV will fly without upper stage fairings
https://www.onmanorama.com/news/nation/ ... art-3.html
21 Nov 2020

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 23 Nov 2020 23:54

Rakesh wrote:
https://twitter.com/VCalhans/status/133 ... 32064?s=20 ---> "In September 2006, the USAF placed a $66m Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract to deliver 123 AIM-120C5 missiles for Saudi Arabia and Singapore." That's about $0.5m per C5 back in 2006. So $1m for each Astra ain't bad considering it's gonna come down.

The AIM-120 D costs $950K USD (CY2020) in a program with a minimum sustaining production rate (annual) of 400 missiles and a production and tooling set up that has delivered more than 21,000 missiles already. Don't understand why folks dig up cost figures from 15 years ago.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 24 Nov 2020 00:01

True about the 15 year cost figure, but the per unit cost of the missile you just provided is for the D variant. The tweet above is talking about the C5 variant. Do they not the make the C5 variant anymore? Or do we know what the unit cost of the C5 variant is today?

nam · Post by **nam** » 24 Nov 2020 00:09

It is not just the induction cost, but the fact that any BVR re life will be done in India. IAF doesn't need to conserve gold platted imports like Mica/Meteor and the cost associated with re life.

IAF can now carry numbers on CAP, better train their crew, create new tactics with the availability of home grown BVR. Not to mention implementing features from other good BVRs. We can play BVR-BVR with PAF and make their AIM-120 inventory expensive.

1M for initial batch with so advantage is a steal...It will be more fun with 160 km Astra 2 and SFDR.

Another advantage is that lot of components will be similar across our missiles, specially the seeker. Astra 1,2, SFDR, QRSAM, Akash Prime, Akash NG rationalization our cost heavily.

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 24 Nov 2020 00:12

Rakesh wrote:True about the 15 year cost figure, but the per unit cost of the missile you just provided is for the D variant. The tweet above is talking about the C5 variant. Do they not the make the C5 variant anymore? Or do we know what the unit cost of the C5 variant is today?

I don't think they make the C5 anymore. Raytheon had been working on baselining the production program to essentially create two variants, a C8 variant (which is the C7 variant with adjustments made to align some components with D for supplier efficiency) and the D (and ER-AMRAAM for other applications). Not sure where they are at that. While some may be in the supply chain, I'm pretty sure they don't take orders for older types anymore. The reason I provided D variant costs is that it is the best AUR cost we have straight out of an audited budget based on a negotiated contract.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 24 Nov 2020 00:25

Okay, then that makes sense.

The AIM-120D variant has a "published" range of greater than 160 km. The official Astra Mk1 range hovers anywhere between 80 - 110 km, although I am seeing more of the 110 km figure now. Perhaps a cost analysis - if such a one could be fairly conducted - would be Astra Mk2 to AIM-120D on a pure range comparison as the former has a "published" range of 160 km. But even that, IMVHO, is a flawed comparison to make.

Probability of a missile kill varies on a host of factors, with range being just one among the many. Balakot proved that in spades.

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 24 Nov 2020 00:28

I don't think per range basis really matters all that much. At the end of the day the vast majority of the cost resides in electronics, guidance, and other components and not propulsion per se. So it is just a matter of achieving a viable production rate (what the production has targeted) sustaining it, obtaining learning curve efficiencies and then sustaining all this. Once you have a few years of sustained production and operations under your belt you can then identify areas of opportunity where you can increase performance (like component reliability) and reduce cost. The AMRAAM program benefits from 30+ production lots worth of accumulated production knowledge. And a test/training campaign that has had 2,000+ launches to validate design changes that improve efficiency, affordability or performance. ASTRA is just getting started with its first major production batch. Once they stick with it they'll do the same.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 24 Nov 2020 00:29

Absolutely. It is for that very reason, that I have to chuckle when I read that PL-15 has a range of 300 km and will give the PLAAF total air supremacy. The Chinese certainly know how to spin a yarn.

John · Post by **John** » 24 Nov 2020 01:24

brar_w wrote:
Rakesh wrote:
https://twitter.com/VCalhans/status/133 ... 32064?s=20 ---> "In September 2006, the USAF placed a $66m Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract to deliver 123 AIM-120C5 missiles for Saudi Arabia and Singapore." That's about $0.5m per C5 back in 2006. So $1m for each Astra ain't bad considering it's gonna come down.
The AIM-120 D costs $950K USD (CY2020) in a program with a minimum sustaining production rate (annual) of 400 missiles and a production and tooling set up that has delivered more than 21,000 missiles already. Don't understand why folks dig up cost figures from 15 years ago.

Canada recently purchased 32 AIM-120D along with all support equipment for 140 million USD.

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 24 Nov 2020 01:30

John wrote:
brar_w wrote:
The AIM-120 D costs $950K USD (CY2020) in a program with a minimum sustaining production rate (annual) of 400 missiles and a production and tooling set up that has delivered more than 21,000 missiles already. Don't understand why folks dig up cost figures from 15 years ago.
Canada recently purchased 32 AIM-120D along with all support equipment for 140 million USD.

Canada did not have platforms they can use the AIM-120D without integration. Therefore the very limited batch of missiles procured also buys system integration into their Hornet fleet (that probably also requires test shots which could be why they bought 32 and not 30). This would be a one time recurring cost. The cost I referenced is the AUR cost I.e. how much does a single AIM-120D cost to produce with contractor profits thrown in and what the actual negotiated unit cost is. It is straight from the GOTUS budget i.e. $959K for an AIM-120D AUR (USAF), and $526K for a CATM AUR (USAF) for FY21 procurement. These are missile costs alone, not the cost to add the AIM-120D to say a USAF fighter type. That cost is extra. For example, the F-16 was only able to employ the AIM-120D following the OFP 7.2+ upgrade which enabled the AIM-120D SIP2 capability. However, the AUR cost doesn't factor in the cost of what it took to produce that new software drop for the F-16 (and how much of that cost was on account of AIM-120D SIP1 or SIP2) or any operational test shots that might be required to validate this build and integration (which the F-16 just recently did). For Canada, their Hornet need this integration to employ the latest variant so the DSCA approved all of that together - in one notification to Congress.

nachiket · Post by **nachiket** » 24 Nov 2020 04:35

In all this discussion about the price the important (and depressing) thing to remember is that even the order for 288 does not seem to have progressed beyond AoN since July. The impending test of the Astra from the Tejas is good news, but at this rate it is going to be quite a while before we have any significant numbers of Astras available for equipping even one Tejas squadron. Remember, the initial lots are likely to be earmarked for the MKI fleet.

V_Raman · Post by **V_Raman** » 24 Nov 2020 05:57

Which company is producing Astra? DRDO itself? If not, is it productionized?

John · Post by **John** » 24 Nov 2020 05:59

Yea brar_w my point of comparing it to Canada order is how much it could us if we were to by similar amount of AIM-120d to integrate with our platform, due to cost I doubt we would any more than what Canada order and it is reminiscent of our Derby order.

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 24 Nov 2020 06:05

John wrote:Yea brar_w my point of comparing it to Canada order is how much it could us if we were to by similar amount of AIM-120d to integrate with our platform, due to cost I doubt we would any more than what Canada order and it is reminiscent of our Derby order.

Yes exactly which is also why the tweeted cost comparisons were irrelevant. But production cost can be managed with establishing a decent production rate, sustaining that and then throwing the producers incentives to improve efficiency and lower cost. You can't do all that work upfront. It requires a smooth transition from an R&D program to a rate production program and then needs time to absorb the learning curve efficiencies and establish which components can be improved for better performance and lower cost. There is little in the way of short-cut to obtaining that end state. And this is the case for all. Supposedly, Lockheed is to begin LRIP of its AIM-260 this year or next year, to support initial testing and IOC rounds. Yet, it won't be till 2026 that the USAF moves completely away from buying AIM-120D's to buying just AIM-260's. That's 5 years to sort out production, re-design components that don't meet reliability or cost targets and prep for negotiating full-rate production multi-year contracts. There are always going to be discoveries (that escape R&D and initial batch testing) that happen after you establish rate production despite the use of the most advanced digital design tools. It takes time even for the best missile design/production teams. You just have to stick with it.

nachiket · Post by **nachiket** » 24 Nov 2020 06:36

V_Raman wrote:Which company is producing Astra? DRDO itself? If not, is it productionized?

BDL is the production agency for the Astra. Their production facility for the Astra is at Bhanur in Telangana and was inaugurated back in 2017 by Arun Jaitley. It has been over 3 years now.

Link

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Nov 2020 08:16

There is some confusion with that '288' number for Astra.

There already was a pre-production order of 50 placed on BEL sometime in 2018. Then the July,2020 orders were for 248 missiles which was over and above the 50.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Nov 2020 14:04

India successfully test-fires land attack version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile - New Indian Express

India on Tuesday successfully test-fired a land attack version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands territory, sources said.

The supersonic cruise missile was test-fired at 10 AM today and it successfully hit its target, which was on another island, they added.

"The test was conducted by the Indian Army which has many regiments of the DRDO-developed Missile system. The strike range of BrahMos missile has now been enhanced to over 400 km," sources said.

The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is the world's fastest operational system in its class and recently DRDO has extended the range of the missile system from the existing 298 km to around 450 km.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 24 Nov 2020 14:43

This is the 2nd report of 450km. First was for IAF Su30s carrying it.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Nov 2020 15:16

India kicks off multiple 'live tests' of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile - Rajat Pandit, ToI

India on Tuesday kicked off what will be multiple operational firings of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile this week, in yet another hard-nosed display of its precision-strike capabilities amidst the ongoing military confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh.

The first “live missile test” of the 290-km range BrahMos, which is a deadly conventional (non-nuclear) weapon that flies almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2.8, was conducted by the Army in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago at about 10 am on Tuesday.

Similar tests will be carried out by the Navy and IAF also in the Indian Ocean Region this week. “The requisite advance warnings to aircraft and ships in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal have been issued,” said a defence ministry source.

The tests come even as BrahMos land-attack missile batteries have already been deployed in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, along with tanks, howitzers, surface-to-air missiles and other weapons, as part of the overall military readiness posture against China. Similarly, some Sukhoi-30MKI fighters armed with BrahMos missiles are also deployed in airbases closer to the Line of Actual Control.

Sources say work is also underway to make the enhanced version of BrahMos with a strike range of almost 450-km, which has been successfully tested three to four times, operational as soon as possible. Moreover, India and Russia are also getting set to test a new version of BrahMos, with 800-km range, by middle of next year.

The tests this week will see the Army firing the air-breathing missile at the Trak island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, while naval warships test the anti-ship variant on the high seas.

The sleeker air-launched version, in turn, will be fired from a Sukhoi flying from the mainland. With a combat radius of almost 1,500-km without mid-air refueling, the Sukhois with BrahMos missiles constitute a formidable long-range weapons package.

“The Sukhoi-BrahMos combination can be used for surgical strikes against underground bunkers, command-and-control centers and other military targets deep inside enemy territory as also warships on the high seas,” said a senior officer.

BrahMos has emerged as the “prime strike weapon” for the armed forces over the years, with contracts worth over Rs 36,000 crore already inked till now. The Army, for instance, has three BrahMos regiments, with another two on the way. Ten frontline warships are also equipped with the BrahMos vertical launch systems, while another two are currently being fitted with them. “Every big warship that goes for refit or upgrade is fitted with the BrahMos missiles now,” said another officer.

The government had earlier also approved the deployment of Block-III version of the BrahMos missiles, which have “steep dive, trajectory manoeuver, and top-attack capabilities” for mountain warfare in Arunachal Pradesh, as was reported by TOI.

India joining the 34-nation Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in June 2016 has “removed the caps” on the range of the BrahMos missile developed jointly with Russia. The MTCR basically prevents the proliferation of missiles and drones over the range of 300-km.

basant · Post by **basant** » 24 Nov 2020 17:10

India to develop 1400 Km range BrahMos Soon

Today’s test was to achieve a 290km plus range. Most interesting information we have learned about yet another avatar of the world’s deadliest supersonic cruise missile BrahMos. Indian scientists are preparing to create a 1400 km range Brahmos missile. The actual range of Brahmos missiles is claimed to be at 290 km.

The test of the 400-km range of BrahMos conducted in September was successful, and talks are on with the three Services to extend the range of the missiles within a scheduled time period. Later the plan is to increase the range from 400 to 800 km. And from there on, to achieve the monstrous 1400 km making it the deadliest cruise missile in India’s arsenal.

darshhan · Post by **darshhan** » 24 Nov 2020 17:42

I hope DRDO also develops the swarm concept for brahmos missiles. For eg a swarm of a 12 brahmos missiles launched at enemy targets, which are communicating and coordinating with each other to attain the most optimium solutions with respect to path selection, targeting behaviour and hence increased lethality. Will be unbeatable for quite some time.

Although I suspect that developing and then applying Swarming algorithms for a supersonic weapon system like Brahmos will be quite a challenge. But if they are able to pull it off, then nothing like it. Applying swarm treatment to Brahmos will ensure that all missiles collaborate with each other to confuse air defences and to destroy even the most hardened targets. Basically a thinking Brahmos. It is already a formidable weapons system. This will be elevating it to new level altogether.

JTull · Post by **JTull** » 24 Nov 2020 17:44

basant wrote:India to develop 1400 Km range BrahMos Soon
Today’s test was to achieve a 290km plus range. Most interesting information we have learned about yet another avatar of the world’s deadliest supersonic cruise missile BrahMos. Indian scientists are preparing to create a 1400 km range Brahmos missile. The actual range of Brahmos missiles is claimed to be at 290 km.

The test of the 400-km range of BrahMos conducted in September was successful, and talks are on with the three Services to extend the range of the missiles within a scheduled time period. Later the plan is to increase the range from 400 to 800 km. And from there on, to achieve the monstrous 1400 km making it the deadliest cruise missile in India’s arsenal.

They've taken this from The Print, who have actually claimed 1500km! https://theprint.in/defence/india-now-w ... le/550924/

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 24 Nov 2020 18:03

1400-1500 km range with same propulsion system seems likes a typo. It'll be a completely new missile then.
Why not use Shaurya type system for extended ranges, atleast for short to mid-term? Atleast till the development of these extra long range Brahmos type missiles is complete.

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 24 Nov 2020 18:43

The expected testing of Brahmos 800 Kms range next year is really good news. This matches the timeline given when the first news report of this long range variant of Brahmos had come in.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Nov 2020 18:48

basant wrote:India to develop 1400 Km range BrahMos Soon

That appears untrue. We know that ER Brahmos (450 Kms) is already realized; an 800-Km range is being readied; then, there is BrahMos-NG (or BrahMos-Mini) and a hypersonic BrahMos (BrahMos-II).

basant · Post by **basant** » 24 Nov 2020 19:29

^^^
Agreed. 800km is the range of Oniks-M. Anything above that should be taken with decent amount of salt. Almost twice of the same is crazy!

JTull · Post by **JTull** » 24 Nov 2020 19:54

Can a hypersonic version take it to 1500kms?

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 24 Nov 2020 19:58

JTull wrote:Can a hypersonic version take it to 1500kms?

Sure but there is no hypersonic version or design evolution. It is going to be a completely different weapon though the name reflecting the partnership may continue to be used. Interesting how a 1,500 km ranged air-breathing ground launched hypersonic weapon sizes out. Unless its a combined cycle type approach, I figure it is going to be substantially larger.

darshhan · Post by **darshhan** » 24 Nov 2020 20:16

1500 km brahmos supersonic missile sounds untrue to me because some months back there was news of DRDO developing a long range subsonic cruise missile like nirbhay with a range of 1500 kms. Additionally this missile was supposed to have supersonic velocity approx mach 3 in its terminal stage.

So why will DRDO/Brahmos corp initiate a parallel project of similar range and when in terminal stage even the earlier project was supersonic speed?

Ofcourse Brahmos corp would be flush with funds given their sales record. So they do have both the financial wherewithal and technical project to launch such a project.

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 24 Nov 2020 20:41

1500 Km Brahmos seems bogus. Sudhir Mishra, in his Livefist interview, makes no mention of it. He talked about the program in detail and its a must-watch

Even a torpedo-tube-launched Brahmos is nowhere in the works, which is a bit unfortunate IMO, because it means that we can't take a Brahmos-mini and retrofit into our existing sub fleet.

The next goals seem to be: indigenous seeker and longer ranged variant. For hypersonic, he said they'll piggyback on HSDTV tech development. Even Brahmos-mini seems a few years away.

darshhan · Post by **darshhan** » 24 Nov 2020 22:03

One more point regarding this 1500 km Brahmos rumor.

Just because something can be done, doesn't mean it has be done. Before starting any project its financial viability and operational utility and effectiveness should be checked. For eg the current Brahmos itself costs 2-3 mil usd as per earlier reports. Increasing the range manifold will definitely have substantial impact on already steep price of Brahmos.

But even more important question is regarding the operational effectiveness of this long range brahmos. Even at Mach 2.8, brahmos will take approximately half an hour or 30 minutes to cover 1500 kms. Now the most important attribute of brahmos which makes it such a formidable weapon is the surprise factor as a result of its high speed due to which it has a high probability to overwhelm enemy air defences. Now if it is taking 30 minutes to reach its target plus considering that it is a infra red hog and will use high altitude for most of 1500 kms travel, it will stand a good chance of being detected. where is the surprise? Infact within this time frame, the enemy can even mobilise every SAM telar, every AA gun system and every C-RAM truck in the near vicinity. I wonder what will be the effectiveness of Brahmos in such a situation. There is a reason why US chose stealthy subsonic templates for aircrafts and missiles over SR-71 and derivatives.

Where Brahmos will shine is below 500 km range and especially below 250 km range. This is its sweet spot. Enemy will hardly get any time to react at these distances. 5 minutes for 250 kms and 10 minutes for 500 kms while maintaining a substantial lo profile trajectory. Very hard to intercept.

The problem is that we have failed to develop and/or procure subsonic cruise missilies(nirbhay), tactical ballistic missiles(pralay,shaurya etc), uavs and other precision guided munitions(rudram, saaw etc) in numbers and now we are trying to substitute each of them with Brahmos. This is not a strategy. It is foolishness. No military can or should use a single weapon system for all its mission sets. This is not how it is done. Let brahmos be what it is and focus on procuring nirbhays, shauryas, prahaars, rudrams etc for other mission sets.

Time for Brahmos corp also to ask Russia for new technology or new weapons systems that is relevant to us. Since the time when Brahmos was incorporated, we have indigenised lot of defence technology. Doesn't make sense to share these profits with Russians. For eg if we are able to develop hypersonic technology on our own then why should we manufacture it under Brahmos corp instead of BDL/BEL.

Vips · Post by **Vips** » 24 Nov 2020 23:12

Per a Defence AV, the Brahmos test was in top-attack configuration, had 3 way points and hit the target with pin point accuracy after making 3 curves at speed of 1 KM/Sec.

Cain Marko · Post by **Cain Marko** » 25 Nov 2020 01:39

darshhan wrote:One more point regarding this 1500 km Brahmos rumor.

But even more important question is regarding the operational effectiveness of this long range brahmos. Even at Mach 2.8, brahmos will take approximately half an hour or 30 minutes to cover 1500 kms. Now the most important attribute of brahmos which makes it such a formidable weapon is the surprise factor as a result of its high speed due to which it has a high probability to overwhelm enemy air defences. Now if it is taking 30 minutes to reach its target plus considering that it is a infra red hog and will use high altitude for most of 1500 kms travel, it will stand a good chance of being detected. where is the surprise? Infact within this time frame, the enemy can even mobilise every SAM telar, every AA gun system and every C-RAM truck in the near vicinity. I wonder what will be the effectiveness of Brahmos in such a situation. There is a reason why US chose stealthy subsonic templates for aircrafts and missiles over SR-71 and derivatives..

IF this range increase has any merit to it, it could be useful. The brahmos route and trajectory could be via different way points making it less predictable. 30 minutes of flight time doesn't mean 30 minutes of time available. That depends on when the missile was detected, if at all. At such long ranges, the missile could do a hi lo lo profile making it very hard to detect

V_Raman · Post by **V_Raman** » 25 Nov 2020 01:48

Do we have coastal brahmos deployments?

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 25 Nov 2020 22:02

BrahMos hits target with 'pinpoint precision' during test fire - Rajat Pandit, ToI

India on Wednesday conducted two more “live operational firings” of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, amidst the continuing military confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh.

The land-attack variant of the “deep-strike precision missile” hit the target on an island almost 300-km away with pinpoint precision in the tests conducted by the Army at 1.30 pm and then by the IAF at 4pm.

The firings are part of the continuing tests of the air-breathing missile, whose range is now being enhanced to almost 450-km from the existing 290-km. Flying at almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2.8, the BrahMos missile is considered to be the best in its class in the world.

“The first test from a mobile autonomous launcher was conducted on Tuesday. Both the tests on Wednesday followed different trajectories to hit the target from different directions, with the Army firing the missile in full-combat mode. A naval warship will also fire the anti-ship version of the missile in the next few days,” said an official.