Brahmos will be tested at sea in June

The first sea-test of the supersonic cruise missile Brahmos will take place in June. The missile is being fitted in a Rajput class destroyer...

The first sea-test of the supersonic cruise missile Brahmos will take place in June. The missile is being fitted in a Rajput class destroyer for the test and is being developed by India and Russia.

Though Brahmos is primarily an anti-ship missile, it has the capabilities of being launched from multiple platforms on land, sea, sub-sea and air. It has a warhead of 200-300 kilograms but sources say it will later be capable of a nuclear warhead fitting. Brahmos is seen as the Navy’s ‘‘second strike capability’’.

Its low signature on the radar, long flight range with supersonic speed all through the flight, shorter flight times leading to lower target dispersion, and quicker engagement make Brahmos a very lethal missile, sources said. Though it is an anti-ship missile, it can engage shore-based radio-contrast targets. The missile can be launched either in the vertical or inclined position and over 360 degrees.

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DRDO and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) form the joint venture partners for the development and production of Brahmos (Brahmaputra-Moscowa).

‘‘The Brahmos (PJ 10) is essentially for the Navy. We have tested certain parameters and achieved results. Now we will move to the sea-trials,’’ DRDO sources said.

The Rajput destroyer chosen for the sea trials has a displacement of 4,974 tonnes (full load) and a crew of 320 sailors.

The RJD’s key face and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav, party supremo Lalu Yadav’s son, will again contest from his stronghold Raghopur.

Amid Mahagathbandhan crisis, RJD unveils list of 143, drops 36 MLAs, focuses on ‘M-Y’

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The RJD, lead player of the Mahagathbandhan, released its full list of 143 candidates for the November Bihar Assembly elections. Its key face Tejashwi Yadav will contest from Raghopur, and 41 sitting MLAs have been renominated. The party has dropped 36 sitting MLAs and fielded young leaders, signaling a bid to consolidate its core Muslim-Yadav vote base. The Congress has fielded 60 candidates.

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