BrahMos 'Advanced Version' Tested From Warship; Navy Says 'Long Range Precision Strike' Capability Proven

The Indian Navy has tested the extended-range version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a destroyer.

"Long range precision strike capability of Adv [advanced] version of BrahMos missile successfully validated," the Navy said, calling it a shot in the arm for the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat programme.

"Pin point destruction of tgt [target] demonstrated combat & mission readiness of frontline platforms," the Indian Navy added.

The Navy, however, did not reveal the location of the test or the exact range of the "advanced version" of the BrahMos tested.

The latest test of the BrahMos missile comes just weeks after it was test-fired from a land-based launcher by the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the only tri-service theater command of the Indian Armed Forces.

In January this year, India test-fired a BrahMos missile from the Integrated Test Range Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

On 8 December, the air-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired from a Su-30MKI fighter jet, clearing it for serial production. The air-launched version of the BrahMos missile, also called BrahMos-A, is being integrated with Su-30 MKI fighters of the IAF. The IAF had test-fired the air-launched version of the BrahMos missile from a modified Su-30 MKI fighter for the first time in 2017.

These tests come at a time when the Philippines has signed a $375 million deal with BrahMos Aerospace Limited for the purchase of missiles for its land-based anti-ship missile system.