India tests supersonic cruise anti-ship missile
08:21 GMT
BHUBANESWAR, India, Oct 29 (AFP) - India Wednesday successfully tested a supersonic cruise anti-ship missile it is jointly developing with Russia from a launch site in the eastern state of Orissa, defence officials said.
The missile -- christened Brahmos -- has a range of 300 kilometres (186 miles) and can carry a 200-kilogramme (440-pound) conventional warhead. It was first test-fired in June 2001.
The test took place Wednesday morning at the Interim-Test-Range at Chandipur, 180 kilometres (111 miles) from Orissa's state capital Bhubaneswar. "It was a wonderful test flight. This was done to evaluate the precision guidance system and improved fire control system of the missile," said A.S. Pillai from India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The three-tonne, eight-metre (26 feet) missile can be launched from a variety of platforms including ships and aircraft.
The missile was developed by a joint venture company formed in 1998 between the DRDO and Russia's State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia.
India fires tested anti-ship cruise missile
www.chinaview.cn 2003-10-29 18:04:45
NEW DELHI, Oct. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- India on Wednesday successfully fired a test flight of a supersonic anti-ship cruise missile from the Interim Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) sources said.
¡¡¡¡The Press Trust of India said that the missile, which was called Brahmos, was jointly developed by India and Russia and has a target range of 290 km with capability to carry 200 to 300 kg payload of conventional warhead mass.
¡¡¡¡It can be fired from multiple platforms which included ship, land, submarine and air, PTI quoted DRDO sources as saying.
¡¡¡¡Though primarily an anti-ship missile, Brahmos also has the capability to engage shore-based radio-contrast target, they said.
¡¡¡¡"It was a wonderful test-flight. This flight was intended to evaluate the precision guidance system and improved fire control system," A. S. Pillai, chief controller of DRDO said.
¡¡¡¡President Abdul Kalam and Defense Minister George Fernandes congratulated the scientists on the successful test firing of the missile, PTI said.