Coming soon, world’s fastest hypersonic missile

COIMBATORE: In a move aimed at facing external threats against the country with more sophisticated weapon, the BrahMos Aerospace, under the ministry of defense, will soon start to develop the fastest hypersonic missile in the world.Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an international conference on Computer Communication and Informatics at Sree Sakthi Engineering College here on Tuesday, BrahMos CEO and managing director A Sivathanu Pillai said air version of BrahMos missile would be inducted into the Indian Air Force within one year and works for developing BrahMos 2, the fastest hypersonic missile in the world, would begin soon. BrahMos would take final shape in another five years, he added. While the BrahMos missile has the speed of Mach 3 (speed of sound) moving at one km per second, the hypersonic missile would achieve a speed of Mach 6 to Mach 7, he said. "We have the guidelines and technology to make hypersonic missile. However, tests have to be conducted for configuring with the propulsion and for engine and flight tests, which would take at least five years," Pillai said. Once operational, BrahMos 2 would be the fastest missile in the world, he stressed. Having achieved the land and sea versions of BrahMos missile, the air version was in the final stage and after carrying out the critical test, it would be inducted into the Indian Air Force to be used in Sukhoi-30, the main strike aircraft. The missile would be a versatile system in the Defence Force, he said. Pillai said since there was no equivalent to BrahMos, many countries were queuing up for the missile for use in multiple platforms in their force. However, there is a huge requirement for this missile in India and only after fulfilling our demand, the company will think of supplying to foreign countries, he added.When asked about the raging controversy over commissioning of Kudankulam nuclear power project, Pillai said all safeguards have been taken during construction of the plant. "Experts like Dr A P J Abdul Kalam have studied all aspects about the power project. Dr Kalam had reviewed every possible aspect and came out with the report declaring its safety. Every possible safety safeguards have been taken care. There are around 12 such powers stations in operation around the world. Those power plants have been working without any problem. So, we can definitely assume that they are safe. Most of the fears expressed are imaginary," he opined.