Indian BrahMos using Russian GPS system

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NEW DELHI, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- India's newest cruise missile, the BrahMos, is using the latest Russian cruise missile satellite navigation technology, Russian defense sources said.

The systems are from Russia's older Kh-555 cruise missile and the upgraded version, the Kh-101 strategic long-range cruise missile, to be inducted into the army next year.

Russia's GLONASS satellite navigation technology has been added to the Doppler-inertial platform already in the BrahMos, Izvestia newspaper reported.

Izvestia said the unnamed defense sector sources claimed the integration of the Russian navigation systems will allow the BrahMos to hit targets more than 300 miles away, one-third farther than without the systems.

The BrahMos, which can be fired from sea, land and air launchers, can be armed with a nuclear warhead, the source said.

The missile is being developed by Brahmos Aerospace, a joint venture between India's Defense Research and Development Organization and Russian defense contractor NPO Mashinostroyenia.

Earlier this week, The Times of India reported that the navy successfully test-fired a BrahMos missile from a new warship, the Teg, off India's Goan coast.

The Teg was built by the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, and commissioned in April 27. It is the first of the second batch of Talwar-class frigates to be built for India.

The BrahMos performed high-level maneuvers and successfully hit a target ship, the Times said.

The two-stage BrahMos missile -- the first stage being solid-fuel and the second one with a liquid propellant ramjet engine -- was inducted into the navy in 2005 and later into the army, while the air force's version is undergoing final flight trials, an Indian defense official said.

More than 200 air-launched versions are expected to be installed aboard the air force's fleet of 45 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft under $1.16 billion program announced in August.

India also has to decide whether to sign a $3.77 billion deal for around 40 upgraded Su-30MKI aircraft, a report by Russia and India Report said.

Upgrades include a head-up display, a Sigma-95 integrated GPS and ring laser gyroscope inertial navigation system, radars, LITENING targeting pods and electronic counter-measure systems.

The deal for the fighter aircraft "is all set to be sewn up" when Russian President Vladimir Putin meets his Indian officials Nov. 1 in New Delhi's Hyderabad House, used by the government for high-level meetings.

Delivery of the upgraded Sukhois could start in late 2014 or early 2015, Russia and India Report said.