jaiind
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2011
- Messages
- 2,399
- Reaction score
- -23
- Country
- Location
The second of Project 15A “Kolkata-class” guided missile destroyer INS Kochi test fired the missile as part of an acceptance test during a naval drill being conducted off India’s western coast.
The world’s fastest cruise missile, after performing high-level and extremely complex manoeuvres, successfully hit a decommissioned target ship ‘Alleppey’ located at nearly full range of the missile (290-km) with high precision.
After two successful test trials from INS Kolkata in June 2014 and February 2015, yesterday's test firing from the follow-on INS Kochi has validated India's consistent efforts to sharpen its offensive capabilities against its enemies.
BrahMos as the prime strike weapon system will ensure India's invincibility by engaging sea and land based strategic targets at long ranges.
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Kochi on September 30, 2015. The 7,500-ton indigenously developed warship incorporates state-of-the-art design concepts for improved survivability, stealth, sea-keeping and manoeuvrability.
It can carry 16 Brahmos missiles in two 8-cell vertical launch systems, besides other sophisticated weapons and sensors.
The Brahmos missile has a supersonic speed of Mach 2.8, a very low-cruising altitude of 10 meters at terminal phase and pin-point strike accuracy. A 200 kg warhead coupled with sheer kinetic velocity of the missile will ensure 100% destruction of any target.
Ten Indian frontline warships have already been equipped with the BrahMos missiles.
From 2007 onwards, the Army also has progressively inducted two regiments of BrahMos Block-I and II missiles, which have been developed to hit a specific small target with a low radar cross-section in a cluttered environment.
The Armed Forces have placed orders worth a staggering USD 4.5 billion for this deadly weapon system.
