The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared proposals worth over `8,000 crore for procuring “Invar” missiles from Russia for the Army’s T-90 tanks and air-launched versions of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for the Indian Air Force which will be fitted on to the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft.
Upto 10,000 “Invar” missiles and over 200 air-launched versions of the BrahMos missiles could be acquired. Sources confirmed that the first test of the air-launched version of the cruise missile, developed jointly by India and Russia, is scheduled to be conducted by December.
While initially, two Su-30 MKI aircraft are being modified by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) to fit the BrahMos missile, about 42 more Su-30 MKI aircraft are expected to be eventually fitted with the missile and modified for this.
The proposal to acquire BrahMos missiles for the IAF, according to some estimates,could be about Rs 6,000 crore. The funds will also be used for the integration and testing of the missile on the Su-30 MKI fighters. The Russian Invar anti-tank missiles will be launched from the frontline Russian-origin T-90 tanks and upto 10,000 Invar missiles could be bought from Russian manufacturers.