Indian Defence Review

The first carriage flight of Su-30 MKI aircraft with BrahMos missile was successfully achieved at HAL Airport, Nashik today. “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 Mr. T. Suvarna Raju, CMD, HAL who was present on the occasion.

He pointed out that this unique program was taken up by HAL as an indigenous challenge at its Nashik Division and the required data was generated without the assistance of OEM for the modification. It is not the techno-economics of the project, but HAL’s commitment to self-reliance which made HAL to sign the contract with BAPL in 2014 for modification of two Su-30 MKI aircraft for integration of BrahMos missile.

Mr. T. Suvarna Raju, addressing the gathering at HAL-Nashik airport after the Maiden Flight of First Su-30 MKI with BrahMos Missile on June 25, 2016. The aircraft is in the background.

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 license build aircraft. 

Mr. Sudhir Kumar Mishra, CEO & MD, BraMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL) said it is the first time in the world that such a heavy weight (2500 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. 

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. 

With successful integration of BrahMos on Su-30 MKI aircraft has become a lethal weapon delivery platform for IAF.  Around 40 Su-30 MKI aircraft are expected to be modified. The maiden flight will be followed by series of test flights and complete evaluation and certification of BrahMos missile on Su-30 MKI aircraft, added Mr. Raju. 

The missile is developed by BAPL. Other agencies involved in the project include CEMILAC and DGAQA. 

During the course of integration of BrahMos on Su-30 MKI, HAL Nashik gained rich and valuable holistic know how to achieve self-reliance in integration and testing of BrahMos class of weapons on Su-30 MKI aircraft.  With this HAL-Nashik aims to be a center of excellence for integration of weapons systems.