BALASORE, Mar 9: The much-hyped newly developed subsonic, medium range, cruise missile ‘Nirbhay’ will be test fired from Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur on sea, about 15 kms from here on Tuesday, defence sources said today.
Nirbhay is being developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a Defence Research and Development Organisation.
For the first time that India has developed a cruise missile which will travel at a sub-sonic speed (less than the speed of sound).
Nirbhay has good loitering capability, good control and guidance, high degree of accuracy in terms of impact and very good stealth features and it is equivalent of Tomahawk, a long-range, sub-sonic cruise missile, developed by the United States.
The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a DRDO facility in Bangalore, has designed Nirbhay, the equivalent of Lakshya, which is a pilotless target aircraft developed by the ADE.
Nirbhay has many technologies derived from Lakshya. It is a two-stage, surface-to-surface missile. While a booster engine would ‘kick the first stage’ from the ground, the second stage has a turbo-prop engine, akin to an aircraft’s.
It can carry multiple payloads and engage several targets. Even if there are multiple targets, it can pick out a target and attack it, defence sources said.
As a precautionary measure, the villagers residing within the 2 km radius of the the launch complex-III of the ITR will be evacuated.
The defence authorities held a meeting with the Balasore administration on Friday last and it was revealed that about 3284 people, including 698 minors belonging to 453 families, all residents of five villages namely Jaydevkasaba Pahi, Sahaji Nagar Pahi, Luna Pahi, Kusumuli Pahi and Khadu Pahi would be displaced temporarily.
The displaced villagers would be given accommodation in two temporary shelters. While each adult would be paid Rs 185 for shifting from their houses, the minor would be paid Rs 75. This apart,the authority would also pay compensation for shifting the cattle and domestic livestock.
(UNI)
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