In a significant achievement, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has effectively test-fired the Aerial version of the Supersonic BrahMos cruise missile from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft.
About the Supersonic Brahmos Cruise Missile
Brahmos is a groundbreaking two-stage missile, utilizing a solid propellant engine in its first stage, and a liquid ramjet in the second. It operates as an air-to-surface missile with a flight range of almost 300 km. This makes it the heaviest weapon ever deployed on the Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft, clocking in at 2.5 tonnes.
This multiplatform missile can be launched from various platforms – land, air, or sea. It displays extraordinary multi-capability features with pinpoint accuracy, functioning efficiently in both day and night irrespective of varying weather conditions. The Brahmos operates on the ‘Fire and Forget’ principle, meaning it doesn’t require any further guidance once it’s launched.
The development of Brahmos is a result of a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and NPOM of Russia. Its name, Brahmos, is taken from the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva. Prominently, Brahmos stands out as one of the fastest cruise missiles currently operationally deployed, boasting a speed of Mach 2.8 – thrice the speed of sound.
A Historical Moment for Brahmos
Brahmos Missile grabbed headlines on November 22, 2017, when it was successfully flight-tested for the first time from the IAF’s frontline fighter aircraft, Sukhoi-30 MKI, against a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 22 November 2017 | First successful flight test from Sukhoi-30 MKI |
| Prior to 2017 | Development and testing phase of Brahmos |
India’s First Woman Pilot Qualified for Combat Missions
In another leap towards gender equality in the Indian Armed Forces, Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth has become the first woman pilot of the IAF to qualify for daytime combat missions on a fighter jet. Kanth completed the required operational syllabus to be declared ‘Operational by Day’. This milestone asserts her competence in flying the MiG-21 Bison aircraft during daylight.
The MiG-21 is currently the oldest frontline combat jet in service with the Indian Air Force. Its term of service started in 1964 and has undergone regular upgrades since then. The MiG-21 ‘Bison’ signifies the definitive variant of this legacy fighter.
Kanth was one of the first women selected for the Air Force’s fighter stream in 2016, along with Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi. She joined the fighter squadron in 2017 and undertook a solo flight on the MiG-21 Bison in the previous year.
Recent government data highlights that women constitute 3.80% of the Army, 13.09% of the Air Force and 6% of the Navy. To enhance female representation in the services, the government plans to induct women into the military police this year.
