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In the next few years, the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, will be able to carry and launch the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. This will be possible once the lighter version of the supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos-NG (next generation), is ready, according to the company officials.
“The BrahMos-NG development is expected to make first flight in two years and will be ready for production in 2-3 years after that. The focus of the development as of now is on the air-launched version,” a BrahMos official said on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022.
The NG will weigh almost half as much as the current air-launched version, making it possible to be mounted on the LCA in future, the official said. Stating that during the development phase it is being integrated on the Su-30MKI, the official said it would later be integrated on the LCA and also other fighters of the Air Force.
The current air-launched missile weighs 2.65 tonne, which will come down to 1.33 tonne with the NG. With this, a SU-30MKI will be able to carry up to four BrahMos-NG missiles, while the LCA can carry two missiles, the official added.
The missile can be launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against surface and sea-based targets and has been long inducted by Indian armed forces.
The NG will weigh only half as much as the current air-launched version
