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.