On Wednesday, the country for the first time tested the 290-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from underwater. Its submarine-launched version was “successfully’’ tested from an underwater pontoon off Visakhapatnam around 2.10 pm.
BrahMos chief A Sivathanu Pillai promptly declared, “The missile is fully ready for fitment in the ‘Project-75 India’ (P75I) submarines of the Indian Navy in vertical launch configuration, which will make the platform (submarine) one of the most powerful weapon platform in the world.’’
Defence minister A K Antony also chipped in soon after, saying, “It’s a wonderful achievement and proud moment for India.’’ DRDO chief V K Saraswat said it was “a significant step towards boosting India’s military strength”. Other scientists proclaimed this was “first time any supersonic cruise missile has been launched vertically from a submerged platform’’. Amid the gushing accolades, they, however, forgot to mention one critical fact: the Project-75 India submarines are nothing but a mere pipedream at present.
With even the initial global tender or request for proposal (RFP) for them yet to be floated, the Navy will not get the first such submarine anytime before 2023.
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