POSSIBLE 'TECHNICAL SNAGS' DELAYS NIRBHAY CRUISE MISSILE TEST
BALASORE:A possible technical glitch in the launcher reportedly delayed the third test of India’s home grown surface-to-surface cruise missile Nirbhay. The indigenously developed nuclear capable missile is to be tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Odisha coast on Thursday.
Sources informed 'The New Indian Express' that the missile was made vertical in the morning and the preliminary countdown set for 9.30 am after a special puja and some ceremonial offerings at launching complex-III of the Chandipur-based test range. “Sukhoi fighter aircraft also took off from Kalaikunda air base to track the missile.
But the countdown was stopped at 3 minute due to some faults probably in the launcher. After sometime, the 20-minute countdown was again set and later it was increased to 50-minute. Now the test has been scheduled for 11.45 am,” informed the source.
The cruise missile will take off from a mobile launcher specifically designed for Nirbhay by the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) and fly at low height. A Sukhoi (Su-30MKI) fighter will chase the missile to record the flight data. The source informed that the DRDO scientists are busy in locating faults and resolving them.
The missile’s first test on March 12, 2013 had failed as the missile veered off the flight path for which it was to be terminated mid-path after 20 minutes of flight. The missile remnants had fallen in the orchard of a resident in Jagatsinghpur district though none was hurt.
Second test of the missile on October 17 last year was however successful in flight though it could not maintain low height. Nirbhay continued its flight that lasted nearly 73 minutes and covered the desired distance. “We hope this time too the missile will perform as expected. A few newly developed sub-systems will be proved during this test,” an official said.
The cruise missile having a strike range of around 1,000 km is expected to supplement the Indo-Russian joint venture supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, which can carry warheads up to 290 km. According to defence sources, the two-stage missile has a length of six meters, diameter of 0.52 m, wing span 2.7 m and a launch weight of about 1,500 kgs.
While the Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) has designed the missile, its solid rocket motor booster has been developed by Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL).
BALASORE:A possible technical glitch in the launcher reportedly delayed the third test of India’s home grown surface-to-surface cruise missile Nirbhay. The indigenously developed nuclear capable missile is to be tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Odisha coast on Thursday.
Sources informed 'The New Indian Express' that the missile was made vertical in the morning and the preliminary countdown set for 9.30 am after a special puja and some ceremonial offerings at launching complex-III of the Chandipur-based test range. “Sukhoi fighter aircraft also took off from Kalaikunda air base to track the missile.
But the countdown was stopped at 3 minute due to some faults probably in the launcher. After sometime, the 20-minute countdown was again set and later it was increased to 50-minute. Now the test has been scheduled for 11.45 am,” informed the source.
The cruise missile will take off from a mobile launcher specifically designed for Nirbhay by the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) and fly at low height. A Sukhoi (Su-30MKI) fighter will chase the missile to record the flight data. The source informed that the DRDO scientists are busy in locating faults and resolving them.
The missile’s first test on March 12, 2013 had failed as the missile veered off the flight path for which it was to be terminated mid-path after 20 minutes of flight. The missile remnants had fallen in the orchard of a resident in Jagatsinghpur district though none was hurt.
Second test of the missile on October 17 last year was however successful in flight though it could not maintain low height. Nirbhay continued its flight that lasted nearly 73 minutes and covered the desired distance. “We hope this time too the missile will perform as expected. A few newly developed sub-systems will be proved during this test,” an official said.
The cruise missile having a strike range of around 1,000 km is expected to supplement the Indo-Russian joint venture supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, which can carry warheads up to 290 km. According to defence sources, the two-stage missile has a length of six meters, diameter of 0.52 m, wing span 2.7 m and a launch weight of about 1,500 kgs.
While the Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) has designed the missile, its solid rocket motor booster has been developed by Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL).
