By Anantha Krishnan M
Bengaluru: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) continued with its successful run of missions this year, when it conducted a ‘text-book precision’ launch of home-grown subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay, today. DRDO confirmed that the missile was launched from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha at 11:39 am. This was the sixth launch of Nirbhay (NGL-06) and was aimed at testing the reliability of ‘boost phase’ and ‘cruise phase’ using way point navigation at very low altitudes.
The Bengaluru-bred missile took off vertically, then turned horizontally into the desired direction separating its booster, following which the wings were deployed enabling it an engine start and cruise towards its intended way points. “It was an excellent launch. This is the first time ever an indigenously-developed missile cruised at 5-metere altitude,” an official confirmed to Onmanorama. During today’s mission, the missile covered way points as low as 5 meter to maximum of 2.5 kilometres.
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