India successfully test-fired its first domestically built nuclear-capable long-range cruise missile earlier today.
The “Nirbhay”, (fearless in Sanscrit), missile lifted off from a mobile launcher at the Integrated Missile Test Range in Chandipur in the eastern state of Orissa, India’s official news agency, The Press Trust of India reported.
“The trial was totally successful,” a senior government official associated with the launch told the Press Trust of India.
“The outcome of the trial was ascertained by analysing the data retrieved from radars and telemetry points,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Unlike other ballistic missiles, Nirbhay can be launched from land, sea and air.
Friday´s success comes after the subsonic missile´s first test launch in March 2013 had to be aborted midway after it veered off course.