India testfires supersonic Cruise Missile

31.03.2012

India Friday testfired its second supersonic BrahMos cruise missile in two days off the coast of the eastern state of Odisha, sources said.

"The missile, with certain new systems, was testfired at 10:00 am from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off the Odisha coast, two days after a similar testfiring was carried out," the sources said.

BrahMos is the world's fastest cruise missile in operation. The missile travels at speeds of Mach 2.8 to 3.0, and is about three- and-a-half times faster than America's subsonic Harpoon cruise missile.

BrahMos, which can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land, is capable of carrying a conventional warhead of 200 to 300 kg.

BrahMos is a joint venture between India's Defense Research and Development Organization and Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia who have together formed the BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited.