Deliveries of air-launched BrahMos missiles for the Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI fighters may start in 2019, BrahMos spokesman Praveen Pathak said Tuesday.

"One more test on a ground-based target is planned for the end of the year - November-December.

After that, deliveries of weapons will start, we have already received the order from the Air Force, so we are waiting for the completion of this test," Pathak said on the sidelines of the Army 2018 defence industry forum.

BrahMos, the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile created history on 22nd Nov 2017 after it was successfully flight-tested first time from the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) air superiority fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30MKI against a sea based target in the Bay of Bengal. The missile was gravity dropped from the Su-30 from fuselage, and the two stage missile’s engine fired up and straightway propelled towards the intended target at the sea in Bay of Bengal.

The development work related to the Air launch version of the missile is complete. Work has also been successfully completed with Sukhoi design bureau, HAL, and the IAF for interface requirements and installation of BrahMos on SU-30MKI.

Two aircraft was earmarked by the IAF for the initial launch trials. The first Su-30MKI fighter aircraft modified for BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was handed over by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to the CEO & MD of BrahMos Aerospace on 19 February 2015 during Aero India show.

The SU-30MKI has a maximum speed of 2 Mach with a single in-flight range of 3,000 km. A total of 8,000 kg payload can be carried by it in a maximum altitude of 17 km.

TASS