New Missile Ejection Technology To Be Tested

New Missile Ejection Technology To Be Tested

missile ejection

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A pneumatic ejection system for the Brahmos missile air version is scheduled to be tested this year while launched from an Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi-30MKI jet.

The nearly three feet long device is to be fitted inside the launcher developed by BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Limited (BATL), a subsidiary of India’s BrahMos Aerospace. “Its job is to eject the missile on a command from the pilot”, explained an executive of Nucon Aerospace, a firm specializing in aviation and missile subsystems and parts which has developed the ejection system.

The most important component of the system is a canister holding air at a pressure of 30 bars, he explained adding that the system had been tested and certified by the Center for military airworthiness and certification (CEMILAC).

The representative, who declined to disclose his name, said Brahmos Aerospace had ordered some 60 odd numbers of the ejection system indicating that the air-launched Brahmos program was in the full-steam-ahead mode.

It was reported that the aircraft would have two different types of missile ejection systems – one main and another for backup in case the first one fails.

According to defenseworld.net, the launch of the air-launched Brahmos missile is one the most eagerly awaited missile trails, not just in India but also internationally as no other cruise missile worldwide can travel at Mach 2.5 plus speed, effectively making it immune to anti-missile systems.

The project involves also Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). During the missile’s successful dummy test held in June last year, HAL had said that 40 Sukhoi fighters would be modified to integrate the air version of supersonic cruise missile BrahMos. HAL chairman T S Raju had been quoted as saying, “it’s an engineering marvel in the aviation history of India. It proves that when all agencies come together with one mission, there is nothing impossible.” The first modified Su-30MKI capable to carrying the 2.5-tone missile in its underbelly had been handed over to Brahmos Aerospace by HAL in 2015.