Chandipur-on-sea, June 12
A 280-km range surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile, which uses propulsion from Russia and an Indian guidance system, was today successfully test-fired from the interim test range on the Orissa coast here.
The launch of the PJ-10 missile, seen as the beginning of a series of joint ventures between Indian and Russian scientists, was watched by Defence Minister Jaswant Singh, Scientific Adviser V.K. Atre, Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis and Fleet Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command Vice-Admiral John Desilva.
Defence Ministry officials said the 6.9 m high sleek missile, capable of carrying multiple warheads, was the first of its kind in the world.
Today’s flight test was the first in a series planned to demonstrate the capabilities of the system to potential customers. The missile would be ready for regular production and marketing within two years, the Defence Ministry said.
The PJ-10 could hit a target 280 km away within 300 seconds. It had been designed as an anti-ship weaponry system, it said.
Scientists from Russia, including H.A. Yefremov and a representative of the Russian President, also witnessed the test fire at 1017 hours.
While Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee congratulated Indian and Russian scientists for the spectacular joint achievement, Mr Jaswant Singh said the launch was a landmark in the technology partnership between the two countries and had laid the foundation for more joint ventures.
The medium range missile witnessed a perfect vertical take-off from a specially designed launcher LC-3. Totally guided by an onboard computer, it used both liquid and solid propellants in its two-stage system.
The missile incorporated the most advanced technologies and was intended to enhance the effectiveness of both Indian and Russian armed forces. It was capable of being launched from a variety of platforms — mobile launchers, ships, submarines and aircraft — and could defeat the high effectiveness of most of the modern ship defence systems
UNI
