The central government is all set to approve an over Rs 6,500-crore programme to mount supersonic cruise missile BrahMos on Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The air-launched missile system would significantly add to the conventional offensive capabilities of Indian military might, while intensifying arms race in the region. The project seeks to mount the missile on as many as 42 Sukhoi fighters, and includes 216 air-version missiles. Sources said the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) would soon be considering for approval of the project to mount air version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, on IAFs most advanced fighter. The government proposes to develop two prototypes of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters fitted with the missile for field trials in the project’s first phase. Once the two prototypes complete a series of field trials, another 40 of the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters would be fitted with the missile in India, a senior official said.
Source: Times of India
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