New Delhi: Indian Navy is going to increase its strength further. With the motive to enhance the firepower of its warships, it plans to acquire 38 extended range BrahMos missiles. This supersonic cruise missile would be able to hit targets at around 450 kilometres.
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles would be fitted on the under-construction Vishakhapatnam class warships of the Indian Navy which are going to join active service in the near future.
Proposal made for 18 hundred crores
“A proposal of Rs 1,800 crore has been sent to the Ministry of Defense for acquiring 38 long range BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles,” the news agency has quoted as saying by government sources. It is expected to be approved soon. BrahMos would be the main strike weapon of the warship and has already been fitted in many naval warships.
The Indian Navy had also carried out the test firing of the Brahmos missile from its warship INS Chennai to showcase its capability to strike targets at ranges more than 400 km in high seas.
Export market is also being searched
India is also working on finding an export market for the supersonic cruise missile, which DRDO has largely indigenized under its project PJ-10. After the joint venture between India and Russia in the late 90s, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has become a powerful weapon for the three armed forces, which the armies use according to the situation.
‘INS Himgiri’ was launched on Monday
The frigate warship ‘INS Himagiri’ was launched by Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat in Kolkata on Monday. It has been prepared under Project 17-A at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) yard.
The specialty of the frigate warships being built under Project 17-A is that it cannot come under enemy radar. This GRSE project will add strength to the Indian Navy. According to sources, 3 warships will be built under this project. The second and third warships are expected to be held in the years 2024 and 2025.