DRDO successfully test-fired Nirbhay
CONTEXT:
- India successfully test-fired its first Sub-sonic cruise missile, Nirbhay on 15 April 2019.
- The launch was conducted from a test range in Odisha at 11:44 am.
- The missile can be deployed from multiple platforms and was launched by DRDO from complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.
- The last successful trial of ‘Nirbhay’ cruise missile was conducted on November 7, 2017.
BACKGROUND:
- Nirbhay is powered by a solid rocket booster for take off which is developed by Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL).
- The missile has a Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG) based guidance, control and navigation system.
- It also has a MEMS based Inertial Navigation System (INS) along with the GPS system.
- It has a range of about 1000 km and is capable of delivering 24 different types of warheads depending on mission requirements between 200-300kg.
- It will eventually supplement the role played by Brahmos missile for the Indian Armed Forced by delivering warheads farther than the 450 km range of Brahmos.