India successfully test fires N-capable cruise missile Nirbhay: 7 things to know about it
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 PTI 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.
