India test fires Brahmos supersonic cruise missile

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India carried out a successful test firing of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile yesterday. The missile was launched from a land mobile launcher, at the Pokhran test range in Rajasthan in the northwest of India.

The missile flew the maximum range of 290 kilometres on this test. The Brahmos is in service with the Indian military since 2007. Two variants of the missile are currently in service, the land mobile launchers deployed with two missile regiments of the Indian Army, and a naval surface-launched variant deployed on Indian Navy frigates.

Some of the Indian Su-30MKI fighter jets will also be equipped with the missile, the first test flight of the airborne variant is expected to be held later in 2014. A submarine-launched variant is also in development.