India test launches BrahMos supersonic cruise missileMay 22, 2013 - 17:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - India test launched a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the Russian-built guided missile frigate Tarkash off the coast of Goa on Wednesday, May 22, RIA Novosti reported citing a defense ministry source. “The missile performed a maneuver in the predetermined flight path and successfully hit the target,” the source said. The Tarkash, Teg and Trikand, three modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates built by Russia under the 2006 contract, will be equipped with BrahMos missiles, he said. The first two ships have already entered service with the Indian Navy, and the third is due to be delivered from Russia soon. The BrahMos missile is based on the Russian-designed NPO Mashinostroyenie 3M55 Yakhont (SS-N-26) missile. It has a range of 290 km (180 miles) and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg (660 lbs). It can effectively engage targets from an altitude as low as 10 meters (30 feet) and has a top speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster than the US-made subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile. India is also developing an air-launched variant of BrahMos for delivery by its Sukhoi Su-30MKI strike aircraft, as well as a submarine-launched variant. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |