40 Indian fighter jets to be fitted with BrahMos missiles

Kuala Lumpur, Apr 22 (ANI): BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, which is a joint venture of India and Russia, will be fitted on the Indian Air Force's 40 Su-30MKIs fighter aircraft.

CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace Dr AS Pillai said: "The inclusion of BrahMos cruise missile will make the aircraft unique in firepower."

Dr Pillai was speaking to a Russian news agency at the Defence Services Asia-2010 exhibition here.

He also added that the first trials of the air-launched version were set for 2011 and the first test-flight with the missile on-board is scheduled for 2012.

The supersonic cruise missile has a range of 290-km and flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach.

The BrahMos missile is a successful joint venture of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia.

BrahMos missiles sea and ground-launch versions have already been successfully tested and put into service by the Indian Army and Navy. (ANI)