India test-fires nuclear-capable cruise missile
India on Friday test-fired a nuclear-capable cruise missile from Balasore in Odisha state, the Times of India (ToI) reported.
The missile, with the name of Nirbhay, has a range of over 700 kilometres, the ToI said, adding that today's test-fire was the second developmental trial of the missile.
The missile's first test was carried out on March 12 last year from the same base but "the flight had to be terminated mid-way, as deviations were observed from its intended course," the ToI quoted an official as saying.
The official added that Nirbhay has good loitering capability, effective control and guidance, high degree of accuracy as well as effective stealth features.
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The long range capability Nirbhay is being developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The test comes as India and Pakistan are engaged in skirmishes along the Line of Control (LoC) and the working boundary and also as India has conveyed to China that it could no longer be issued warnings by anyone saying the South Asian nation was now immensely powerful and held a prominent position on the international stage.
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