New Delhi: Flight tests of India’s homemade 1000 km-range cruise missile failed on Monday due to technical problems.
The Nirbhaya – an intermediate-range subsonic land-attack cruise missile with terrestrial hugging – is the Indian version of the American Tomahawk and Russian club SS-N-27 cruise missiles.
Defense scientists in India said the test failed within 8 minutes of launch due to technical problems in the engine. They did not give further details.
The fearless missile is currently powered by a Russian Saturn 50MT turbofan engine. Its local development began in 2007 with the Defense Research and Development Organization.
A senior DRDO scientist said that Nirbhaya is a stealthy missile capable of delivering various military information and is capable of awaiting and attacking multiple targets.
“Cruise missiles like the Tomahawk and the Fearless (when successful) do not follow the ballistic paradigm, but have a ground-embracing approach. Therefore, they are more difficult to detect by conventional radar. And so more lethal and thus required by the Indian Armed Forces, ”an Army official said.
Weighing 1,500 kilograms with a height of 6 meters and a speed of Mach 0.7 Mach, this missile can carry 300 kilograms of conventional and nuclear military equipment.
Nirbhaya is a two-stage missile. Its solid fuel rocket motor acts as its first phase and accelerates the missile after launch for the speed of the cruise, while the second phase takes the turbojet engine.
It is equipped with domestic ring laser gyroscope inertial navigation system, GPS-enabled navigation system and Russian pro system.
In July, the Defense Ministry’s procurement agency proceeded to purchase about 300 fearless cruise missiles for the three armed forces.
At least 20 more tests will take place before the missiles are included, another DRDO scientist said, which could take three to five years.
The weapon is manufactured by state-owned Bharat Dynamics Limited, and each Nirbhaya missile system will cost about $ 1.5 million.
