Posted on 04/29/2002 5:52:06 AM PDT by Vigilant1
Sunday, 28 April, 2002, 16:38 GMT 17:38 UK
The Indian authorities say they have successfully tested a supersonic cruise missile developed jointly with Russia.
A defence ministry spokesman in Delhi said the test took place near Balasore, in the eastern Indian state of Orissa.
He said the missile, known as Brahmos, had a range of 300 kilometres and could carry a 200 kilogram conventional warhead.
Brahmos can be launched from ships, submarines or aircraft, and can travel at twice the speed of sound. The announcement comes during a tense military standoff between India and Pakistan, with nearly a million troops mobilised on either side of their joint border.
Close ties
The missile was first tested last year.
It is fuelld with a solid propellant and has a pre-set trajectory.
But a sensor on its head detects the target and can change course to strike 20 km from the targeted range.
The missile was developed by a joint venture company formed in 1998 by Indian and Russian state defence organisations.
The two countries have enjoyed close defence ties stemming from the cold war period.
Nearly 70% of India's defence hardware is of Soviet origin and in recent years Delhi has ordered fighter planes, tanks and submarines from Russia.
It's a sugar frosted cereal from Post based on dead composers. Look for Post Choco Bach-Os and New Frosted Wheat Wagners as part of your complete breakfast.
The good thing is that, as WWIII unfolds, it will become increasingly clear that it is a war against radical islam. Both Russia and India will be pushed into an alliance with us, as both countries have so much to lose if the islamic menace is not stopped.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.