The joint venture BrahMos Aerospace between Russia and India to showcase a full-scale mockup of a new BrahMos-M missile at DEFEXPO-2014 Land, Naval & Internal Homeland Security Systems Exhibition. It is a smaller version of the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, ITAR-TASS reports with reference to the CEO of BrahMos Aerospace, Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai.

"We must decrease the weight of the missile in order to integrate it with different platforms, including fifth-generation fighter developed by India in cooperation with Russia", - he noted adding that the fifth-generation fighter and carrier-based MiG-29K/KUB jets will be able to carry two BrahMos-M missiles, while Su-30MKI aircraft will carry three ones.

According to him, the Board of Directors of BrahMos Aerospace has approved the start of development of the new missile. "We hope to launch the first missile of the type in three years", - Pillai added.

Presumably, the missile will have the following dimensions: length - 6 m, diameter - 50 cm. It will have a maximum speed of 3,5 Mach (the current versions of missiles made by BrahMos Aerospace are able to reach the speed of 2.8 Mach). The missile will be able to carry a warhead with a weight of up to 300 kg; its range will be 290 km. The company has already tested two-stage BrahMos-M cruise missile with a length of 10 m and a diameter of 70 cm.

Moreover, a mockup of a BrahMos launcher intended for Su-30MKI fighters will be showcased at DEFEXPO-2014. It has already been tested. "We hope to perform the first missile launch from Su-30MKI fighter in the fourth quarter of 2014, - he explained adding that the drop tests will be started in 2 or 3 months. It is the first stage of testing carried out in order to make sure that the missiles are able to leave the launcher without any problems.

DEFEXPO is the largest exhibition of the type in India; it is held every two years in New Delhi. This year it will be held during a period from February 6th to February 9th.