The upgraded version of the Nirbhay surface-to-air cruise missile was successfully test-fired at 3:08 pm from Launch Pad No. 3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur. The missile flew for about 150 km with the indigenous cruise engine and the engine showed its performance as expected. The Nirbhay cruise missiles are expected to be formally inducted after the next round of user trials.
Eight development trials of the Nirbhay cruise missile have been completed so far. Specialized in sky-high maneuvering and maneuvering performance, the missile is capable of carrying nuclear warheads over long ranges and hitting multiple targets in all weather. This missile, six meters long and weighing about 1500 kg, can strike a distance of more than 1000 km. With two wings, this missile is capable of flying at an altitude of 500 meters to four kilometers. The missile is powered by a solid rocket booster for take-off, which has been developed at the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL). Upon reaching the required velocity and altitude, the missile's turbofan engine is used as ignition.
It can also fly at low altitude to avoid enemy radar. Being a terrain missile, it is difficult to detect Nirbhay from enemy radar. The missile keeps encircling its target area for several minutes and then hits the right place at the right time. All the five development tests of this missile have been completed. So now user tests are being done. The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) had planned to test the Nirbhay missile with an indigenously developed small turbofan engine after completing all the mission objectives in the development test. It is also capable of delivering 24 weapons of different types depending on the requirements of the mission.
In this sequence, on Tuesday, DRDO successfully test-fired the subsonic cruise missile 'Nirbhay' with indigenous ruby turbo fan engine off the coast of Odisha. Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) with indigenous cruise engine flew for about 150 kms. According to DRDO, more user trials will be conducted in the near future. Nirbhay is a long-range all-weather subsonic cruise missile designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in India. The missile can be launched from multiple platforms and is capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads. It is currently deployed in limited numbers along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) during the standoff with China.