Tensions on the border between India and China continue, causing issues to rise in the region. To combat this, India deployed its new Nirbhay long-range cruise missile on Tuesday.
It is reported that this is the Nirbhay missile’s first deployment and it is being used to counter China’s massive missile deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that separates the two countries.
The missile has a diameter of 0.52 metres and a wingspan of 2.7 metres. It weighs around 1,500 kg. It’s six metres long and is a two-stage missile with a range of around 1,000 km.
This missile can carry a 200 kg warhead in both conventional and nuclear options. They can cruise at a speed of Mach 0.8. It’s capable of flying at tree-top level making it difficult to be detected by enemy radars.
It’s powered by a solid rocket booster for take off which was developed by Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL). When it reaches its required velocity and height the turbofan/ turbojet engine in the missile takes over for further propulsion.
The Nirbhay is India’s first indigenously designed and developed long-range subsonic cruise missile. It was developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE). It’s similar to the American Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM).
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