Brahmos cruise missile flight trial in Thar

Jodhpur, June 1 (UNI) The Indian Army successfully tested the flight trial of the supersonic Brahmos cruise missile in the Thar desert.

This was 12th trial of the Brahmos in the country.

According to sources, this test was carried out by trained Army personnel in the user-deployment configuration yesterday. The missile followed a predetermined trajectory at a very low altitude, impacting with precision on the designated land target.

Chief of the Army Staff, General J. J. Singh, many Corps Commanders and other senior officers were present on the occasion. They termed the flight as 100 percent successful. The missile was irst ucessfully tested in Thar desert on December 21, 2004.

M. Nataranjan, scientific advisor to the Defence Minister of India, and Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, chief executive officer Brahmos, were satisfied with the performance of the missile.

The 280-300 km range, liquid fuel charged three-tonne missile carries a warhead of 200 kg conventional explosives. This missile can be launched from multiple platforms like sea, land, submarines and aircrafts.

Earlier this missile was successfully tested at Orissa's Chandipur Field Firing range.

The Brahmos supersonic cruise missile had earlier been included in the Indian Armed Forces with its Advance Fire Control System for their warships.

UNI XC VA BST1240