Nirbhay, India's 1,000 km strike range sub-sonic cruise missile, successfully test-fired

India on Monday successfully test fired India's 1,000 km strike range sub-sonic cruise missile from Odisha coast. This is India's first indigenously designed and developed long-range cruise missile. The Nirbhay is a subsonic long-range land attack cruise missile that can be armed with a 300-kilogram warhead. The nuclear-capable, solid fuel, missile is capable of reaching speeds of 0.6-0.7 Mach and can strike land targets at a distance of up to 1,000 kilometers, according to reports.

The missile was developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) a lab under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The surface version of Nirbhay missile was first test fired for the first time on 12 March 2013 from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Balasore district of Odisha. The test was a partial success as the missile took off, reached the second stage of propulsion, and travelled 30 per cent of its range and completed most of the mission objectives.

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.