Historic flight of Su-30MKI with BrahMos missile

The first carriage flight of Su-30MKI aircraft with BrahMos missile was successfully achieved at HAL Airport in Nashik on June 25, 2016. The aircraft was in the air for 45 minutes and was flown by Wg Cdr Prashant Nair and Wg Cdr M.S. Raju, both flight test crew of ASTE.

“It is a perfect example of ‘Make in India’ and an engineering marvel in aviation history of India. It proves that when all agencies come together with one mission, there is nothing like impossible”, said T. Suvarna Raju, CMD, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The first modified aircraft was airborne in one year and the second aircraft in the second year. This is the second project where HAL presumed the role of OEM and modified the airframe of licence build aircraft.

Sudhir Kumar Mishra, CEO & MD, BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL), said it is the first time in the world that such a heavyweight (2,500 kg) supersonic cruise missile has been integrated on fighter aircraft. “The world did not believe us that we could do it and thanks to the vision of late President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, we could achieve this today and history is made”, he added.