The Nirbhay is India’s first indigenously produced cruise missile. The missile similar in appearance to the U.S. Tomahawk and the Russian Club SS-N-27 with its cylindrical fuselage. So far it is unclear whether the missile will be ground, sea, or air-launched, but its tests suggest at least a ground launched version. Additionally, the DRDO is said to be working on a road-mobile truck platform. Other reports suggest the Nirbhay is due for deployment on submarines.¹ The Nirbhay is believed to be 6.0 m in length, 0.5 m in diameter, and 1,500 to 1,600 kg in launch weight. The payload is believed to be around 450 kg of HE/submunitions, but a small nuclear warhead with a 12 kT yield is also possible.²

The missile uses a solid propellant booster motor that is jettisoned shortly after launch, switching over to a turbojet engine with a cruise speed of 0.65 Mach and a reported range of 800-1,000 km.³ The missile is guided by INS/GPS with an active-radar terminal seeker, and its accuracy could be improved both by the development of an indigenous Indian navigation satellite system⁴ and the potential of integrating the seeker from the BrahMos missile, which could be tested in December 2016.⁵

The first flight test of the Nirhbay in 2013 had to be aborted when the missile veered off course, but the second test in 2014 was successful to a range of 1,000 km.⁶ A 2015 test of the missile was terminated as a result of a malfunction in the guidance system.⁷ Another test of the Nirbhay is planned for sometime in 2016.⁸

1. Franz-Stefan Gady, “India’s Deadliest Sub to Test-Fire Missiles,” The Diplomat, October 15, 2015, Accessed on http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/indias-deadliest-sub-to-test-fire-missiles/.
2. James C. O’Halloran, “Nirbhay,” in IHS Jane’s Weapons: Strategic, (IHS; 2015). 139.
3. James C. O’Halloran, “Nirbhay,” in IHS Jane’s Weapons: Strategic, (IHS; 2015). 139.
4. Swarajya, “Why India’s Own Navigation Satellite System Will Be A Boost For Its Armed Forces, April 28, 2016, Accessed on http://swarajyamag.com/columns/why-indias-own-navigation-satellite-system-will-be-a-boost-for-its-defence.
5. Aditya Bhat, “Ghatak UCAV awaiting approval from PMO, Nirbhay missile test with BrahMos seeker planned,” International Business Times India, March 30, 2016, Accessed on http://www.ibtimes.co.in/ghatak-ucav-awaiting-approval-pmo-nirbhay-missile-test-brahmos-seeker-planned-672637#wqadzIKQoHbzFUGo.97.
6. Y, Mallikarjun, “India successfully test-fires cruise missile ‘Nirbhay’,” The Hindu, October 20, 2014, Accessed on http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indigenously-developed-cruise-missile-nirbhay-testfired/article6509942.ece.
7. Franz-Stefan Gady, “Revealed: India’s Deadly New Missile Fails Flight-Test,” The Diplomat, Accessed on http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/revealed-indias-deadly-new-missile-fails-flight-test/.
8. Hemant Kumar Rout, “3rd-time unlucky Nirbhay to try luck once more,” the New Indian Express, May 11, 2016, Accessed on http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/3rd-time-unlucky-Nirbhay-to-try-luck-once-more/2016/05/11/article3426832.ece.