Su-30MKI Ready for BrahMos Trials

摘要

Adaptation of the first of two Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters that will undertake trials of the air-launched version of the BrahMos missile has been completed in India. The news was revealed by Alexander Maksichev, the Russian CEO of the Indian-Russian BrahMos Aerospace Company, during an interview for the ARMS-TASS news agency. According to Mr Maksichev, the first flight of a full-scale model of the BrahMos carried by a Su-30MKI is due before the end of this year (adding to BrahMos-A Integration Work Under Way, April 2013, p12). Prior to the flight, wind-tunnel tests and simulations of separation of the weapon from the aircraft will be undertaken at Bangalore, India. He also emphasised the missile mock-up was equipped with a large number of sensors to record loads and vibration. "[The] launcher for the missile [has been] developed in India and is completely ready. Optimisation of the 'missile-launcher' interface is now being conducted; then the 'launcher-carrier' interface will be adjusted," he said.