Nirbhay

For the 1996 film, see Nirbhay (film).

Nirbhay
Nirbhay cruise missile launched on 15 April 2019
TypeLong-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile[1][2]
Surface-to-surface missile
Place of originIndia
Service history
In serviceLimited deployment
Used byStrategic Forces Command
Indian Army
Indian Air Force
Indian Navy
Production history
DesignerAeronautical Development Establishment (DRDO)
ManufacturerBharat Dynamics Limited
VariantsITCM
SLCM
LR-LACM
Specifications
Mass1,500 kilograms (3,300 lb)[3]
Length6 m (20 ft)
Diameter0.52 m (1.7 ft)
Wingspan2.7 m (8.9 ft)
WarheadConventional (PCB, blast fragmentation)[4][5] or
Nuclear
Warhead weight200-300 kg
EngineFirst stage: Solid rocket booster
Second stage:
PropellantFirst stage: Solid fuel
Second stage: Liquid fuel
Operational
range
up to 1,500 km (930 mi)[8]
Flight altitude50 m (160 ft) to 4 km (13,000 ft)[9]
Maximum speed 0.9 Mach[10][11]
Guidance
system
Mid-course: Ring laser gyro inertial navigation system and MEMS gyroscope. Augmented by GPS/NavIC satellite guidance
Terminal: Active radar homing, electro-optical, imaging infrared[12][4]
Launch
platform
Land-based mobile TEL
TransportTata LPTA 5252 12×12 High Mobility Vehicle

Nirbhay (lit. 'Fearless') is a long range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile designed and developed in India by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) which is under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).[13][14] The missile can be launched from multiple platforms and is capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads. It is currently deployed in limited numbers in Line of Actual Control (LAC) during standoff with China.[15]

  1. ^ "India to Test Nirbhay Cruise Missile in 2012". Rusnavy. November 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  2. ^ "India Develops Sub-sonic Stealth Cruise Missile". Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  3. ^ Rout, Hemant Kumar (11 May 2016). "3rd-time unlucky Nirbhay to try luck once more". The New Indian Express. ENS. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Cruise Missile - Nirbhay". DRDO. Ministry of Defence. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  5. ^ "120 mm Penetration Cum Blast (PCB) AND Thermobaric (TB) Ammunition For MBT Arjun". DRDO. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Engine and Accessories". DRDO. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Nirbhay". Missile Threat. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Nirbhay cruise missile test-fired; indigenous engine a success, say officials". 11 August 2021.
  9. ^ Gupta, Shishir (11 August 2021). "Nirbhay cruise missile test-fired; indigenous engine a success, say officials". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference et1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "India to Test 'Nirbhay Cruise Missile, Develop Agni-V Variant with Multiple Warhead Capabilities". Defence Now. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  12. ^ CSIS. "Nirbhay". Missile Threat. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  13. ^ Krishnan M, Anantha (10 January 2021). "ADE steps into new decade with planeloads of critical projects". OnManorama. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  14. ^ Pandit, Rajat (8 November 2017). "Nirbhay Missile: India successfully tests its first nuclear-capable cruise missile | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  15. ^ Azam, Tanweer (2020-09-29). "LAC standoff: India deploys long-range missile Nirbhay to tackle Chinese threat". Zee News. Retrieved 2020-09-29.