ZHUKOVSKY, Moscow region. Aug 15 (Interfax-AVN) - The development of a Russian-Indian BrahMos hypersonic cruise missile will take around 15 years, BrahMos Aerospace CEO and Managing Director Shri Sudhir Kumar Mishra told Interfax-AVN at the Oboronexpo 2014 exhibition in Zhukovsky, Moscow region on Friday.
The company is now involved in research activities together with the Moscow Aviation Institute and the Indian institute of Science in Bangalore, Mishra said, adding that BrahMos Aerospace will also study the work of other institutes.
A 5-Mach missile will be developed at the first stage that is expected to be completed within four or six years, he said, noting that the development of a hypersonic missile will take from eight to ten years.
The Indian navy and land forces operate BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. Aviation and underwater modifications of the missile are currently being developed. It is expected that Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters are expected to be armed with BrahMos supersonic missiles.
Currently, a 300-kilometers range BrahMos missile has a speed of 2,7000 kilometers per hour. Its warhead weighs 300 kilograms.