New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday successfully test-fired the extended range version of the BrahMos Air-launched missile, which can hit targets at a range of about 400km, news agency ANI reported.
After being launched from a Sukhoi Fighter Jet, the missile hit the target ship in the centre. It was a test of the anti-ship version of the air-launched version of the missile, IAF officials said.
The supersonic cruise missile "achieved the desired mission objectives in the Bay of Bengal region and with the successful test, the Indian Air Force achieved a capability boost to carry out precision strikes from Su-30 fighter aircraft against land/ sea targets over long ranges," the defence ministry said in a statement.
"The extended range capability of the missile coupled with the high performance of the SU-30MKI aircraft gives the Indian Air Force a strategic reach and allows it to dominate the future battle fields," the statement added.
It is to noted that the successful test firing was a joint effort by the Air Force, Indian Navy, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the BrahMos Aerospace (BAPL).
Notably, India tested a series of anti-ship, air-defence, ballistic, cruise, air-to-air, anti-missile systems and even the capability to hit targets in space this year.
India is also one of the seven countries possessing an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), Agni V, which can travel a minimum distance of 5,500km.