Nirbhay Cruise Missile Test Next Month: DRDO

Tata 12×12 vehicle on which Nirbhay will be based. | Photo by Shiv Aroor

India’s Nirbhay cruise weapon will be tested in February, DRDO chief Dr V.K. Saraswat said at a press conference last week in Bangalore. This is the first time in over a year that a definite time-frame has been provided on the mysterious programme. Last checked, the missile was to have been tested in July-August 2012.

As I’ve earlier reported, this will be, without a doubt, the most significant weapon test since, perhaps, the Agni-III. The Nirbhay, shrouded in secrecy for long, is understood to be a two-stage high subsonic cruise missile with loitering capabilities. Sources suggest that apart from the engine (apparently supplied by NPO Saturn), the rest of the system is fully indigenous.

16 thoughts on “Nirbhay Cruise Missile Test Next Month: DRDO”

  1. Is nobody in india smart enough to even design a bloody jet engine..whats the point in calling it indegenous if the engine is from a foreign source.the idiots at drdo are the most incorrigible loosers in the world

  2. @10.01,
    Barely 4-5 countries in the world actually produce a complete jet engine for aircraft.And it is the engines from these few that power the rest of the world.

    The very best of luck to DRDO.Do not mind the detractors,who would be still disappointed if every nut,bolt and screw were not made inhouse.

  3. .
    When is this Saraswat guy getting kicked out and 'Chief talker & Media Scientist' position getting eliminated from DRDO?
    .

  4. How can Russia supply an engine for this ?

    This is banned under MTCR obligations.

    Hell , even supplying an engine for the unmanned bomber we are developing is banned. That is why we are going to use Kaveri for that.

    Shiv, your thoughts ?

  5. To Anon @10:01PM

    The engine is not from Russia. It's against MTCR to supply components for any missile going above 300km range.

    False reports from false sources pop up and idiots start believeing whatever is written.

    The engine is built by HAL & GTRE, and its called Laghu Shakti, it was shown to everyone in DEFEXPO 2012, but I guess no idiot was smart enough to pick it up for good.

  6. To Anon @10:01PM

    The engine is not from Russia. It's against MTCR to supply components for any missile going above 300km range.

    False reports from false sources pop up and idiots start believeing whatever is written.

    The engine is built by HAL & GTRE, and its called Laghu Shakti, it was shown to everyone in DEFEXPO 2012, but I guess no idiot was smart enough to pick it up for good.

  7. Kaveri engine can be mounted on nirbhay, after all it's performance was unconvincing for tejas mk1. That is why for tejas mk2 GE has won the order to supply F414 engine. So now kaveri would be used to power drones. India is badly in need of drones to keep a watchful eye on loc and go for the kill on infiltrators sneeking across.

  8. Sarsawat is a big mouth Moron…Feb is almost coming to end…still waiting for test and least for one more delay announcement.Would love to chew my own words.

  9. Today is 1st March 2013 and Mr Sarsawat proved that he is indeed a Big mouth Moron.He should be fired for these repeated delays in launch…but fixing responsibility are not the virtues of UPA and DRDO.

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