Hypersonic version of BrahMos cruise missile in the works
12 Oct 2011
Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu: A hypersonic version of the tri-sonic Brahmos cruise missile, capable of speeds of Mach 7 (seven times speed of sound) is being evaluated and companies in India and Russia are working overtime to design and develop various components for it, a senior BrahMos Aerospace official has said.
The BrahMos is a versatile, stealth cruise missile that flies at three times the speed of sound and has been configured for operations in various roles, such as land attack, sea-land attack, submarine launch, ship-to-ship and shore-to-ship. An air launched version is currently under development.
"For this version, a new engine has to be developed, as also new materials to withstand high temperature and vibrations. They have got to be on board with supportive electronic systems. Numerous industries in Russia and India are involved in design and development of components and sub systems," Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace said.
He said the Indian Institute of Science and Moscow Aviation Institute would be involved in research and development of critical components for the hypersonic version.
However, details on bilateral investment and financing the project were yet to be clinched, Dr Pillai said.
He also said integration of the Brahmos air launched version with the Sukoi-30MKI was progressing with aircraft structural modifications going on at HAL. Trial flights, along with missile tests, would hopefully begin by January 2012, and he expressed confidence the air launched version would be commissioned by that year.
