IAF's Su-30MKI Jets To Be Equipped With Fastest Supersonic Cruise Missiles

Forty Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be armed with the BrahMos cruise missile, which is the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world.

"As for the plans, the serial production has been launched and rearmament will be carried out, as our Indian colleagues have promised on many occasions. About 40 planes will be equipped with BrahMos missiles. Of course, this will require some time, no less than two or three years, to re-equip the planes and produce air-launched BrahMos missiles," Alexander Leonov, Russia’s Research and Production Association of Machine-Building CEO and Chief Designer told TASS.

The IAF became the first Air Force in the world to have fired an air-launched 2.8 Mach surface attack missile against a sea-based target in November 2017. The air-launched 2.5-ton version has a range close to 300km. This version of the missile has additional rear fins for aerodynamic stability during separation from the aircraft during launch.

In May 2019, the IAF tested the BrahMos against a land target.

"The two tests confirmed the universal nature of the missile," Leonov said.