Indian Navy conducts another test-fire of extended-range BrahMos missile

The India Navy has conducted another test-fire of the BrahMos PJ-10 supersonic cruise missile, the country's Ministry of Defence announced on 5 March.

The missile was fired from the Indian Navy's Kolkata/Visakhapatnam (Project 15A/15B)-class guided destroyer, INS Chennai (D65), the ministry added.

“The missile hit its intended target with pinpoint accuracy after traversing an extended-range trajectory and performing complex manoeuvres,” said the ministry in its statement on the launch.

“This achievement establishes the Indian Navy's ability to strike even deeper and influence land operations further away from sea, when and where required,” it added.

The BrahMos PJ-10 is based on the Yakhont (3M-55E) supersonic cruise missile, which is the export version of Russia's domestic P-800 (3M-55) Oniks. The missile has been in service with the Indian Navy for more than a decade.

Besides the Project 15A/15B vessels, the BrahMos PJ-10 is also deployed from the service's Rajput-class destroyers, and Talwar (Krivak III) Batch II frigates.

The Indian Navy announced the test-firing of a similar missile in January 2022. This test was also carried out from another Kolkata/Visakhapatnam-class destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam (D66).