VADODARA: BrahMos supersonic cruise missile which India has developed jointly with Russia is gearing up to achieve a 90-degree steep dive capability that can target enemy positions even behind a mountainous terrains.“We would like to achieve this near vertical capability which will provide a different kind of capability to the users,” said Dr Sudhir Mishra , director general of BrahMos and CEO & MD of BrahMos Aerospace, adding that the capability will be tested next year.“We have already achieved up to 70 degrees of steep-dive angle,” he said, adding that different kind of BrahMos missiles are under development.“The missile with vertical trajectory can be used against enemies hidden in mountains particularly in bunkers and also against aircraft carriers. A lighter version of air-launched BrahMos is at a drawing board stage,” he added.Mishra added that BrahMos missile system was continuously being reinvented to be used across multiple platforms, different trajectory and different targets as guided by India’s ‘Missile Man’ and former President late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.He added that accuracy of missiles has also improved from 30 metre to 10 metre in the past to one metre.“The current air-launched missile is launched from specialized Su 30 MKI fighter aircrafts. The newer one is designed for lighter platforms,” he said, adding that efforts are being made to increase the range of missile from 300 km to 415 km and even beyond.Mishra said that as of now Indian armed forces are the only ones to use this missile. “We are receiving inquiries from foreign buyers but it is up to the central government to decide whom we should sell this unique weapon,” he said.

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