Insta
Nirbhay Cruise Missile
Nirbhay cruise missile has completed development trials successfully and the efforts currently on are only aimed at increasing the indigenous content, Defence Research and Development Organisation chief G Satheesh Reddy has said.
“We only wanted to increase indigenous content in it. After that some snag had come, we are looking into it,” Reddy told ANI.
This statement comes after the test-flight of the Nirbhay, conducted on 12 October, was aborted eight minutes after the missile was launched. The subsonic missile was supposed to cruise for over 50 minutes.
The missile launched on 12 October was equipped with an indigenous engine, called Small Turbofan Engine or STFE (known as Manik earlier). During its development trials, the missile was equipped with a Russian engine.
The DRDO has been working on STFE to make the cruise missile more economical by increase indigenous content used in it.
STFE has been developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment in collaboration with the Centre for Propulsion Technology at IIT Chennai and IIT Bombay. Designed for unmanned air vehicle applications, the engine has been described as a 400 kilogram-force thrust class engine on the DRDO website.
During the test on 12 October, the new engine used on the Nirbhay missile could not reach the necessary power level in the second phase. Glitches in the engine after the booster phase forced it to deviate from its path.
The missile was killed mid-air after the scientists involved in its development noticed the glitches, and it plunged into the Bay of Bengal.
The missile has already been deployed to counter China.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest