NEW DELHI — India will test the air-launched variant of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile by the end of this year, a top scientist says. The missile, developed in cooperation with Russia, will be fitted onto an Indian air force (IAF) Su-30MKI aircraft for its “first flight trial,” according to A. Sivathanu Pillai, missile scientist and chief executive officer at BrahMos Aerospace. Presently, various fitness tests are being undertaken for integrating the air-launched BrahMos with the Sukhoi fighter.

Jet Airways moved closer to finalizing the sale of a 24% stake to Etihad Airways after India’s investment regulator yesterday issued conditional approval. Under a strategic equity alliance unveiled in April, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier will subscribe to 27.3 million new shares of Jet Airways at 754.74 rupees ($13.92) per share. Etihad’s overall commitment to Jet includes an injection of $220 million to create and strengthen a wide-ranging partnership between the two carriers.

NEW DELHI — The launch of India’s GSAT-14 satellite aboard a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D5) fitted with an indigenous cryogenic engine will take place on Aug. 19, a top scientist says.