New Delhi draws line at Strait of Malacca as China tests the waters
by Yuji Kuronuma
NEW DELHI -- India's recent test of a supersonic cruise missile is a strategic game-changer in the Indian Ocean, giving New Delhi the ability to hit targets as far away as the Strait of Malacca.
The move continues a military buildup aimed at defending against incursions by an increasingly ambitious China into the Indian Ocean, which New Delhi regards as within its sphere of influence.
The Indian Air Force fired a BrahMos missile from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter Nov. 22 and struck a target in the Bay of Bengal, the weapon's first successful launch from a fighter jet. "The missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the ship target," the Defense Ministry said.
The BrahMos, developed jointly with Russia, has been fired successfully from land- and ship-based systems. The 2.5-ton missile boasts a range exceeding 400km. Capable of traveling nearly triple the speed of sound, it is said to be the world's fastest high-precision cruise missile. The air force will work to make the weapon lighter and faster.
The successful air launch "greatly enhances India's strike capability," a senior Indian defense official told the Nikkei Asian Review. "It would nullify attempts by India's enemies to engage in any kind of adventurism."
"The plan is to have around 40 Sukhoi jets armed with BrahMos missiles," the official said.
Though India has not disclosed where the BrahMos will be deployed, likely sites include the territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the eastern half of the Bay of Bengal, the city of Visakhapatnam on the bay's western edge and the state of Gujarat on the Arabian Sea.
A defense source said the BrahMos can reach anywhere in the Indian Ocean. "The Strait of Malacca also is covered in its range if the missile is fired from Andaman and Nicobar Islands," the source added.
Stronger Deterrent
The Strait of Malacca, though far from Indian territory, stirs anxiety in New Delhi based on forays by Chinese vessels in recent years.
