Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd handed over the first BrahMos missile integrated Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter to Indian Air Force in an exclusive event...
The Su-30MKI has undergone wing and structural strengthening along with software updates to carry a single BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in the centerline pylon.
HAL’s Nasik division began the program in 2010, and overcame several difficulties due to limited design data of Su-30MkI and received approval in Jan 2011 and order for integration was obtained from BAPL on techno-commercial merits against OEM in January 2014.
BrahMos integration will be a force multiplier for the already potent Su-30 platform, enabling to strike deep enemy installations from standoff distances with surgical precision.
The two stage BrahMos cruise missile is capable of carrying a conventional warhead of 300 kg and flies at a top speed of 2.8 Mach, which is about three times faster than the US subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile.
The air launched BrahMos weighs 2.5 tons, and features a new smaller booster capable of starting at high altitudes and fins for airborne stability.
It can be released from the height of 500 to 14,000 meters (1,640 to 46,000 ft.). After release, the missile free falls for 100–150 meters, then goes into a cruise phase at 14,000 meters and finally the terminal phase at 15 meters.
BrahMos missile has mid-course inertial guidance aided by GPS followed by terminal homing guidance with ARS and multi-spectral seeker for terminal.
The multi role Su-30MKI is the backbone of IAF, which can carry a payload of 8000kg to over 5000 kilometres.
