India to Launch BrahMos Cruise Missiles From Su-30MKI Fighter Jets

High-ranking Indian military officials said that the Indian Air Force would launch a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter in early 2016.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — The Indian Armed Forces will launch a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter this fall, an Indian Defense Ministry source said Monday.

"The first stage of the missile test will start at the end of October — beginning of November," the military source told RIA Novosti, adding that testing will take place in four stages.

Earlier, high-ranking Indian military officials said that the Indian Air Force would launch the missile in early 2016.

The BrahMos short-range supersonic missile was jointly developed by Russia and India and has been in use by the Indian Navy since 2005. The missile has a range of 180 miles and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 660 pounds.

In August, the head of Russian-Indian BrahMos Aerospace enterprise, Sudhir Mishra, said the supersonic missile’s integration with the Su-30MKI multirole fighter would supply India with a powerful weapon without endangering the aircraft.