(Updated@1:38 pm)
India's maiden test-firing of Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile ended on a sad note with the scientists deciding to terminate it, 20 minutes after it was launched. "All systems onboard the missiles performed perfectly for the first 20 minutes. The radars, tracking the missile, reported good health till then. But after 20 minutes, the missile drifted away from the path," sources said.
It is definitely a blow for ADE, which was handed the project outside the Missile Complex in Hyderabad. "We had to terminate the mission taking into account the safety of the coast," sources said.
An official release from DRDO Media head Dr Ravi Gupta issued at 1:28 pm said: "Long range cruise missile Nirbhay was successfully launched
today at 11:50 hrs from launch complex, Chandipur, Odisha, meeting the basic mission objectives
successfully. After traveling
approximately mid-way, deviations were observed from its intended course. Further, flight was terminated to ensure
coastal safety."
Sources told Tarmak007 that the booster, mechanical systems, engine, all avionics and the wing deployment were all intact till the first 20 minutes. Once we noticed that the missile was drifting fast we decided to abort the mission. There could be some malfunction of some component. We will know it soon," sources said.
Sources told Tarmak007 that the booster, mechanical systems, engine, all avionics and the wing deployment were all intact till the first 20 minutes. Once we noticed that the missile was drifting fast we decided to abort the mission. There could be some malfunction of some component. We will know it soon," sources said.