NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — The fifth trial of India's indigenously designed and developed subsonic cruise missile — Nirbhay- was successfully conducted by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) today.
The test holds immense significance after two consecutive failures when the missile developed technical snags, which the DRDO says, has now been resolved. The trial of the long-range missile was conducted at the test range in Chandipur along the eastern coast of Odisha.
BREAKING: Fifth test of India's Nirbhay nuclear-capable cruise missile declared a success. Missile launched at 11:20 a.m. (File video) pic.twitter.com/QViH301QgM
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"The flight test of the Nirbhay missile is successful. It traveled along the pre-designated flight path and homed in on the target," defense sources told Sputnik.
DRDO conducts successful flight trial of 'NIRBHAY' Sub-Sonic cruise missile at ITR, Chandipur, Odisha on 07/11/17. pic.twitter.com/5hwi4ylUgE
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Sources told Sputnik that the missile took off from a specially-designed launcher from the launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur at about 11:20 a.m. (Indian Standard Time) and witnessed smooth functioning of all the subsystems. The missile can hit a target at a maximum range of 1,000 kilometers with a 300-kilogram payload. It can travel with a turbofan or turbojet engine and is guided by a highly advanced inertial navigation system indigenously developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI).
India successfully conducts flight test of indigenously designed & developed long-range sub-sonic cruise missile #Nirbhay
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The Indian government had sanctioned the missile project in 2010 with plans to complete it in three years. The Government later extended the date of completion and approved extra-funding as well for the project. The first test flight was conducted in March 2013.
