NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, APRIL 18
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight-test of Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on Thursday.
Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) successfully flight tested today from ITR Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. ITCM is long range subsonic cruise missile powered by indigenous propulsion system @PMOIndia @DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/wLlpV4wHkx
— DRDO (@DRDO_India) April 18, 2024
An official release said: “During the test, all subsystems performed as per expectation. The missile performance was monitored by several Range Sensors like Radar, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and Telemetry deployed by ITR at different locations to ensure complete coverage of the flight path.”
- The missile is also equipped with advanced avionics and software to ensure better and reliable performance
- Weighing about 1,500 kg, Nirbhay can be loaded with a 450 kg conventional or a 12 kilo-ton nuclear warhead
“The missile followed the desired path using waypoint navigation and demonstrated very low altitude sea-skimming flight.”
All the while, a lone Su-30-Mk-I fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force kept watch.
This successful flight test has also established the reliable performance of the indigenous propulsion system developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bengaluru.
The missile is also equipped with advanced avionics and software to ensure better and reliable performance. The missile is developed by Bengaluru-based DRDO laboratory Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) along with contribution from other laboratories and Indian industries. The test was witnessed by many senior scientists from various DRDO laboratories along with the representatives from the production partner.
Defence Ministry Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO for the successful flight-test of the ITCM and stated that successful development of indigenous long range subsonic cruise missile powered by indigenous propulsion is a major milestone for Indian defence R&D.
Secretary Department of Defence R&D & Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated the entire team of DRDO on successful conduct of the ITCM launch.
And what more can a country’s military ask for, if the missile is totally home-made and capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Though there was no official confirmation of the flight parameters, the Nirbhay is reported to be capable of flying at an altitude that ranges from less than 50 to 4,000 metres with an operational range of about 1,000 km.
DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) is the lead agency in developing the missile while the propulsion system is made by the Bengaluru-based Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE).
Till now, it has been the NPO Saturn 36MT, a Russian turbojet engine that powered the missile.
Weighing about 1,500 kg, Nirbhay can be loaded with a 450 kg conventional or a 12 kilo-ton nuclear warhead.
