India’s indigenously developed nuclear capable sub-sonic cruise missile ‘Nirbhay’, which can strike targets over 700 kms away, was on Friday test-fired from a test range at Chandipur near Balasore, Odisha.
“The missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher positioned at launch pad 3 of the Integrated Test Range at about 10.03 hours,” an official told soon after the flight took off from the launch ground.
“Flight details will be available after data retrieved from radars and telemetry points, monitoring the trajectories, are analysed,” the official said.
Representational image
Here’s what you need to know about the missile:
1. Nirbhay will be an all-weather low-cost long-range cruise missile with stealth and high accuracy. It will weigh about one tonne and will have a length of 6 metres.
2. It is a sub-sonic cruise missile. It blasts off like a rocket, but then unlike a missile, it turns into an aircraft. Unlike other ballistic missiles like the Agni, Nirbhay has wings and pronounced tail fins.
3. It will be capable of being launched from multiple platforms on land, sea and air and shall be inducted into Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force. In particular, Nirbhay will be adapted for the Indo/Russian Su-30MKI.
4. The Nirbhay is very maneuverable and can fly at tree-top level making it difficult to detect on radar.
5. A DRDO official told The Hindu in March 2012 that the two-stage missile Nirbhay will be able to pick out a target and attack it among multiple targets. The missile will also have a loitering capability, i.e., it can go round a target and perform several manoeuvres and then re-engage it.
6. Its first test on 12 March last year, failed with the missile being terminated after launch as it deviated from its flight trajectory.
7. It would be capable of delivering 24 different types of warheads depending on mission requirements and will use an inertial navigation system for guidance.