India tests supersonic cruise missile off east coast
India has successfully tested its BrahMos supersonic cruise missile as part of ongoing tests for its induction into the Indian defence forces, an official says.
A defence official said on Sunday that the missile, fired from the country’s missile testing range located in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, was part of trials by the defence forces to “fine-tune” the missile’s capability of hitting a target.
The official said “a significant feature of the BrahMos is that it can be used for surgical strikes on a specific target, such as terrorist camps or underground bunkers”.
The missile can fly at 2.8 times the speed of sound and can be launched from land, ships, submarines and aircraft.
Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan regularly test missiles, but normally only give each other notice for long-range launches.
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