Balasore (Orissa), April 22
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, was successfully test-fired from the interim test range (ITR) at Chandipur, near here, today.

Terming the test a "100 per cent success", top missile scientist A. Sivathanu Pillai, who heads the BrahMos project, said: "It was a very good flight, an excellent one. The high reliability and new operational capabilities of the missile were established during the flight."

The launch established the missile's precision, long-range manoeuvres and high level of operational features required by the Army in the theatre of war, said Pillai, CEO of BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd.

BrahMos, which has a range of 290 km, blasted off in the presence of Pillai, some 30 Russian scientists and experts from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the ITR, Chandipur, about 15 km from here, at 11.21 am. This was the 14th launch of the missile. The last test was conducted at the ITR on February 4. — PTI