First BrahMos fitted Sukhoi flight in two years: DRDO

Chennai, Dec 14 (UNI) The first flight of Sukhoi fitted with the Air Version of BrahMos, the world's only supersonic missile, will be realised in the next two years time, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chief Controller of Research and Development Prahlada said today.

Dr Prahlada, who inaugurated 'ICAME 2006', an International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering, told UNI that as the missile weighed about one to two tonnes, many modifications had to be done to the aircraft to integrate the missile with it.

''Since the Sukhois are manufactured by Russia, we have initiated discussions with Russia to make some structural, ergonomical and software changes. The wings of the aircraft need to be strengthened.

The talks are in an advanced stage'', he added.

Dr Prahlada said after conducting various types of trials, including test flights, the BrahMos-fitted Sukhoi-30s would be ready for combat in the next two years.

Declining to comment on the quantum of invesment, he said ''our job is to integrate the BrahMos with Sukhoi. We have taken up the job and we are now working with Russia''.

The Air Version of BrahMos would be lighter than naval and ground versions and the combination of BrahMos and Sukhois in the deep strike aircraft role would be deadly.

Dr Prahlada said the DRDO was also involved in the process of developing Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) for submarines to ensure that the submarine did not surface from water. It was now in the design process and it would take about another five years for development, he informed.

''We have developed a small module with the Mumbai-based NMRL Lab and demonstrated it by fitting it in a van. The navy has evinced keen interest for its submarines. The process was only in a preliminary stage'', he added.

UNI GV MS DS1616