Hypersonic missile to be ready in five years

Cruise missile BrahMos shown on IMDS-2007

photo One half 3544

 Jan 10, 2012, The Times of India

COIMBATORE: With the air-version of BrahMos missile likely to be inducted in IAF within a year,works have already been started to develop BrahMos 2, the fastest Hypersonic missile in the world, which would take final shape in five years, a top scientist said.

While the BrahMos missile has the speed of Mach 3 (speed of sound) moving at one km per second, the Hypersonic missile would achieve a speed of Mach 6 to Mach 7, double than that of the present missile, A Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace, told PTI.

"We have the guidelines and technology to make Hypersonic missile. However, tests have to be conducted for configuring with the propulsion and the engine and flight tested, which would take at least five years," Pillai said.

Once operational, BrahMos 2 would be the fastest missile in the world,he said.

Having achieved the land and sea versions of BrahMos missile, the air version was in the final stage and after carrying out the critical test,it would be inducted into the Indian Air Force to use in Sukhoi-30,the main striking aircraft.

The missile would be a versatile system in the Defence Force, he said. Asked about enquiries from foreign Countries, Pillai said that since there was no equivalent to the BrahMos, many countries were queuing up for the missile for use in multiple platforms in their force.

However, there was huge requirement of this missile in India and only after fulfilling the demand, the company can think of supplying to foreign countries, he said.