India test-fires air-launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

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In a display of its growing combat prowess, the Indian Air Force successfully test-fired an air-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi fighter aircraft in the Bay of Bengal, according to sources on Friday. The missile hit a sinking ship with deadly accuracy and the test-firing produced desired results, they added.

The aircraft, belonging to Thanjavur-based Tigersharks squadron, took off from a frontline airbase in Punjab and it was refuelled mid-air before the missile was released, reported news agency PTI. The test-firing of the missile came in the midst of India’s bitter border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.

The missile was fired after the Su-30 MKI aircraft travelled for over three hours covering a “significantly long-distance”, the officials said.

“Aircraft target the ship in the Indian ocean. More than 4,000 km away from mother base of aircraft, mid-air facility was used during the session. This is the second such successful test of the missile,” said sources.

“Brahmos Missile is used during the live target mission. This is a first time such a long live session was conducted,” sources added.

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