The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted a successful test of a surface-to-surface extended range BrahMos cruise missile from the coast of Andaman and Nicobar. The missile is reported to have a maximum speed of Mach 2.8 which is roughly three times the speed of sound.

The successful testing was lauded by Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari who was present at the site and congratulated the entire team for their operational preparedness. The irony is that this test comes at a time when India recently misfired a missile into Pakistan’s territory while according to some defence officials the current missile in question has hit its designated target with pinpoint accuracy.

Meanwhile, at the beginning of this month, the Indian Navy had also successfully tested an extended range land-attack BrahMos missile from INS Chennai which in itself is an indigenously built stealth destroyer.

Earlier the missile’s range was capped at 298 km but following India’s entry into Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) club, the range was extended to around 450 km which will be further extended to 600 km in the near future.

The BrahMos missile, is a joint venture between India and Russia. The missile is capable of carrying both conventional as well as nuclear warheads of up to 300 kilograms and can be launched from land, sea and air.

Owing to its success BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd got a contract from the Philippines for the 290 km range BrahMos ‘fire and forget’ missiles. Similarly, it is reported that the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and South Africa are also interested in getting hold of this new-age missile system.