The Indian Army carried out field trials of an upgraded land-attack variant of the Brahmos missile in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in the country's south, an official said on Tuesday.
Extended-Range Brahmos Set For Induction
The test was conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of the projectile ahead of its induction into India's ground forces.
"The missile has not yet been inducted, and the Indian Army will consider inducting it based on the outcomes of the test," an officer of the force told a defense publication.
The extended-range Brahmos rocket, named Brahmos ER, has been in the making for years. Last year in January, a Brahmos land variant with an extended range was test-fired from the Chandipur range in Odisha.
Subsequently, the Indian Defense Ministry said that the successful test would alter the landscape of the Brahmos program in India.
Of late, New Delhi has put a lot of thrust into expanding its missile fleet with a significant focus on upgrading the Brahmos for its tri-services.
What’s New in Brahmos ER?
Brahmos Aerospace, the manufacturer of the widely-acclaimed missile, previously stated that the extended-range Brahmos supersonic missile would have the capability to hit targets as far as 500 km.
This would be a major uplift from the original 290 km range the Brahmos had at the time of its inception.
While the rocket's original configuration and elements remain intact, the ER version of the missile is reportedly equipped with an "active radar seeker."
A missile with an "active radar seeker" is said to be quite advanced, considering it helps track and engage enemy targets autonomously.