wow, interesting

AND frightening. read on at the link to see WHY the missile failed (NOT good)

Mystery of an Indian Missile Test Flop

by: J. Sri Raman, t r u t h o u t | Perspective
On January 20, 2009, a cruise missile test, which India's security establishment had billed as crucial, failed. It did so in a curious manner, though the cause of the failure is yet to be officially announced.

The questions raised by the failure may appear to be only technical at first glance. They, however, can serve to highlight a military trade war between far-off powers fueling a missile race in South Asia.

The $2.7 million BrahMos missile had been tested several times before, but the last month's exercise was supposed to be a considerable leap forward. It tested a nuclear-capable version of the missile performing an advanced mission - hitting a predetermined, hidden target. The flight was a success, but the missile missed the target...........

an editorial

you should read.
(why is it i hear checkov saying, 'captain, i had no idea where the nuclear wessels were')?

Navy veteran questions why six nuclear missiles were flown on combat aircraft to staging area for Middle East
John Byrne
A retired lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve who served with the Navy's Supervisor of Salvage questioned in a little-noticed editorial Sunday why six active nuclear armed cruise missiles were being transferred to an active bomber base that "just happens to be the staging area for Middle Eastern operations."
"The United States also does not transport nuclear weapons meant for elimination attached to their launch vehicles under the wings of a combat aircraft," Navy veteran Robert Stormer wrote in the Texas-based Star-Telegram. "The procedure is to separate the warhead from the missile, encase the warhead and transport it by military cargo aircraft to a repository -- not an operational bomber base that just happens to be the staging area for Middle Eastern operations."
Six nuclear W80 nuclear-armed cruise missiles were flown to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to Barksdale AFB in Louisiana where they sat for ten hours undetected.
"Press reports initially cited the Air Force mistake of flying nuclear weapons over the United States in violation of Air Force standing orders and international treaties, while completely missing the more important major issues, such as how six nuclear cruise missiles got loose to begin with," writes Stormer................

(p.s. i have FRIENDS in minot. as a matter of fact, i almost had to GO to minot - for work - but ended up NOT having to go. i think the fact i refused to get on a plane in the middle of winter flying into temperatures WELL below zero had something to do with it)