Wednesday 3 June 2020

Fake Defense News : Brahmos Fired from Su-30MKI




Fake News (May 2019) : Brahmos-A fired from Su-30MKI of Indian Air Force. The missile is practically in a category to be carried by Bombers. Big and bulky cruise missiles are exclusively carried by Strategic Bombers like B-52, B-2, Tu-160, Tu-22M3 etc. An example is AGM-86 Cruise missile of USAF, carried only by Bombers and not yet seen on any fighter.  The Russian bombers being aged, the only possibility for air-launching these missiles is either a converted transport aircraft OR the dedicated attack version of Flanker, the Su-34. Su-34 has undergone all the modifications necessary for carrying bulky and heavy weapons.

Such bulky weapons are almost always carried on centerline pylon (hardpoint) on fuselage of the fighter jets. This is a prominent feature of all strike aircraft. The heaviest and biggest fuel tank of Mirage F-1 is carried on its centerline pylon on fuselage. Its the same for others like Mirage-2000D, Rafale and Tornado GR4 is a good example having multiple pylons under fuselage for carrying all bulky payloads. F-16, unfortunately, does not have this facility, its centerline pylon is limited to fuel tank, recce pod or jammer pod, something to think about for PAF.