NEW DELHI - The Indian Army Monday successfully test-fired an advanced version of the 290-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which penetrated and destroyed a hardened target in the Pokhran firing range in the west Indian state of Rajasthan.

"The missile, after launch, followed the predetermined trajectory and successfully pierced the designated concrete structure at bull's eye owing to sheer velocity of the missile," officials told the media. ?

Brahmos is a supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. It is a joint venture between Republic of India's Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroeyenia.

It is the world's fastest cruise missile in operation, travelling at speeds of Mach 2.8 to 3.0. Its land-launched and ship-launched versions are already in service, with the air and submarine-launched versions currently in the testing phase.