Scientists miniaturise nuke warheads to suit Nirbhay
22 Oct 2014 4:27 AM IST
Of course, Defence Research and Development Organisation officials are tightlipped about it. They claim that Nirbhay with its 1,000 km range can carry pay-loads of up to 500 kgs.
One of the reasons for this non-disclosure is possibly the fact that the turboprop engine of the post-booster phase missile, is of foreign origin, thus under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
The missile was successfully tested on 17 October at Balasore. The scientists of the DRDO are thrilled with the performance of the platform, and now claim it should be able to transfer at least one version of the missile — land, seaborne, submersible or air launched — to the designated user service by 2017.
After reaching 5,000 metres above ground with the help of the booster phase on a straight vertical lift-off, the booster was dumped and the missile turned horizontal to the ground and touched upon 15 ‘key points’ that were designated and programmed before-hand.
The inertial navigation system took the missile at tree-top level and on a path that turned a full circle and returned to the blast-off point and then went on a different direction. In the process, while the base number of ten ‘key points’ programmed into the missile’s on-board computer by the DRDO scientists were covered and still went on to touch five more.
This took place over the Bay of Bengal in the eastern seaboard. The flight of the missile validated various key technological developments like clean lift-off, booster separation, start-up of the engine, deployment of stabilising fins, functioning of the geographical positioning system (GPS) etc.
The missile was launched from a wheeled truck, which is preferred by the army as it is its potential first user of the missile. The DRDO sources say that they will require about four or five more trials, before it is handed over to the user service.
An indigenous engine for the cruise state of the missile is under production and will replace the foreign engine.
Friday’s test was the first successful test of Nirbhay. The previous test in 2013 was considered a failure as the missile had veered off the flight-path and crashed. This 70 minute flight boosted the morale of the Aeronautics Development Establishment (ADE) team and earned them encomiums.
One of the reasons for this non-disclosure is possibly the fact that the turboprop engine of the post-booster phase missile, is of foreign origin, thus under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
The missile was successfully tested on 17 October at Balasore. The scientists of the DRDO are thrilled with the performance of the platform, and now claim it should be able to transfer at least one version of the missile — land, seaborne, submersible or air launched — to the designated user service by 2017.
After reaching 5,000 metres above ground with the help of the booster phase on a straight vertical lift-off, the booster was dumped and the missile turned horizontal to the ground and touched upon 15 ‘key points’ that were designated and programmed before-hand.
The inertial navigation system took the missile at tree-top level and on a path that turned a full circle and returned to the blast-off point and then went on a different direction. In the process, while the base number of ten ‘key points’ programmed into the missile’s on-board computer by the DRDO scientists were covered and still went on to touch five more.
This took place over the Bay of Bengal in the eastern seaboard. The flight of the missile validated various key technological developments like clean lift-off, booster separation, start-up of the engine, deployment of stabilising fins, functioning of the geographical positioning system (GPS) etc.
The missile was launched from a wheeled truck, which is preferred by the army as it is its potential first user of the missile. The DRDO sources say that they will require about four or five more trials, before it is handed over to the user service.
An indigenous engine for the cruise state of the missile is under production and will replace the foreign engine.
Friday’s test was the first successful test of Nirbhay. The previous test in 2013 was considered a failure as the missile had veered off the flight-path and crashed. This 70 minute flight boosted the morale of the Aeronautics Development Establishment (ADE) team and earned them encomiums.
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