NEW DELHI: In a first, Indian Air Force tested the extended range variant of BRAHMOS missile on May 12.  The Indian Air Force (IAF) in a statement said that the capability, coupled with the high performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft, gives the IAF “strategic reach” and allows it to “dominate the future battlefields”.

The successfully fired extended range variant of the BRAHMOS missile has a range of 450-500 km. The weapon achieved a direct hit on the designated target in the Bay of Bengal.

Announcing the launch, the IAF said, “It was the first launch of the extended range version of BrahMos from Su-30MKI aircraft. With this, the IAF has achieved the capability to carry out precision strikes from Su-30MKI aircraft against a land/sea target over very long ranges.” The extended range capability of the missile, coupled with the high performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft, gives the IAF “strategic reach” and allows it to “dominate the future battlefields”, it added.

The defence ministry in a statement said, “The launch from the aircraft was as planned and the missile achieved a direct hit on the designated target in the Bay of Bengal region. With this (test-firing), the IAF has achieved the capability to carry out precision strikes from Su-30MKI aircraft against a land/ sea target over very long ranges.”

The BRAHMOS missile, an Indo-Russian joint venture, has a range of 290km and is the fastest cruise missile in the world with a top speed of Mach 2.8 (nearly three times the speed of sound). The extended range variant tested by IAF provides standoff capabilities and will be game changer. Groundwork is also being laid by India to develop an even longer range BRAHMOS missile, capable of striking targets more than 800km away.