New Delhi: In a strategically significant move, the government has decided to fast-track integration of Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles into over 40 Sukhoi fighter jets under a closely-guarded project. Official sources said the decision to speed up implementation of the “strategic” project was taken nearly six weeks after the Balakot air strikes and subsequent Pakistani retaliation.
State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and the BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL), an Indo-Russia joint venture, are implementing the project.
Considering IAF’s requirement, both HAL and BAPL were directed to expedite implementation of the project so that it can be completed much before the scheduled deadline of December 2020, sources said.
The Brahmos, the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile, coupled with the superlative performance of the Sukhoi aircraft will give the IAF a strategic reach and will allow it to dominate the ocean and the battle fields in the region, according to an assessment by the IAF.
Sources said the government had carried out a review of IAF’s February 26 air strikes deep inside Pakistan’s Balakot and the consensus was that the adversary would not have dared to retaliate the next day if India possessed superior air defence system as well as strike capability.
“In this context, the government decided to take a series of steps to bolster the IAF’s overall combat capability which included fast-tracking integration of Brahmos missiles into Sukhoi jets,” said a source.
Once the project is over, the IAF’s In 2016, the government had decided to integrate the air-launched variant of the Brahmos into over 40 Sukhoi fighter jets.
