BrahMos software being modified, says Dr Pillai
14 Feb 2009
Tiruchirappalli: The software of the BrahMos supersonic missile is being modified so that it can meet Indian Army requirements, according to a top BrahMos Aerospace official.
"The software currently used was not adequate for hitting short distance targets. We have now modified the software. Simulation tests are on and the software is being validated," BrahMos Aerospace chief executive officer Dr A. Sivathanu Pillai told reporters here.
The BrahMos is a unique supersonic cruise missile with a 290-km range and a 300 kg warhead. It has been tested in various versions including sea-to-sea, sea-to-land and land-to-land. In its latest version a new guidance system was being tested which failed because of glitches in the software. BrahMos authorities immediately announced they had nailed the problem and a new test would take place. This test has been scheduled for 20 February.
Dr Pillai also said the air-to-air version of the missile would be inducted into the Indian Air Force as scheduled by 2012. The air version would be compatible with the Sukhoi 30-MKI platform. Necessary alterations in the auircrfat had already been made by the Sukhoi design bureau.
A high-level committee comprising officials from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the IAF, and the BrahMos Aerospace were in discussions about the induction of the air version. According to the tentative programme, the drop trial of the missile from aircraft would be done in 2010. "The flight trial to hit the target will be taken up in 2011 and the induction will be done by 2012," Pillai said.
He said the company had also successfully reduced the weight of BrahMos airborne version from three tonnes to 2.5 tonnes.
He also said the scientists were getting ready to launch the missile from a submarine.
As for export of the system, Dr Pillai said 14 countries had been identified by the firm as potential candidates for the supply of the missiles but the decision would be taken by the Indian and Russian governments.
He said the company wanted to produce 50 to 100 missiles per year at its Hyderabad unit and the proposed unit near Thiruvananthapuram.
