New Delhi: India on Wednesday test fired the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from onboard Indian Air Force's (IAF) heady Sukhoi- 30 MKI platform.

Here are key points expressing why BrahMos means for India:

Brahmos ALCM weighing 2.5 ton is the heaviest weapon to be set up on India’s Su-30 fighter aircraft modified by HAL to hold weapons.

 Brahmos has a range of 300 km and besides land platforms; it has ability to fire from Naval platforms. Its extension with a multirole fighter such as Sukhoi-30 MKI gives it a third dimension- air.

The missile was gravity dropped from the Su-30 from fuselage, and the two stage missiles engine fired up and straightway propelled towards the intended target at the sea in Bay of Bengal.

The flourishing maiden test firing of BrahMos Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) from Su-30MKI will drastically strengthen the IAFs air combat operations potential from confrontation ranges.

BrahMos, the top-notch weapon with multi-platform, multi-mission role is now competent of being launched from Land, Sea and Air, completing the tactical cruise missile triad for India. BrahMos is a mutual endeavor between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPOM of Russia.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Dr S Christopher, Chairman DRDO and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D congratulated the Scientists and Engineers for this outstanding flight test.

The completion of tactical cruise missile triad will significantly bolster the IAF’s capabilities in long-range air combat operations. #BrahMos https://t.co/Eq0WVmgUMu pic.twitter.com/wapmG6WM2G

— Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) November 22, 2017

The missile test was held witnessing  by Dr. Sudhir Mishra, Director General (DG) (BrahMos), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD), BrahMos Aerospace including senior IAF officials, Scientists and Officials from DRDO and BrahMos.