DRDO to go ahead with nuke-capable missile test despite Hudhud

The test firing of nuclear-capable Nirbhay cruise missile will be carried on as scheduled despite the havoc wreaked by cyclonic storm Hudhud along the eastern coast, India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said Monday.

Nirbhay is to be test-fired from Balasore in Odisha Oct 17.

Sources from DRDO said there is no major damage to its missile testing facility and the test will go on as planned.

"There is no major damage at the missile testing facility at Balasore. We are going on with the test firing as scheduled," a DRDO official, who did not want to be named, told IANS.

Indigenously developed by the DRDO, Nirbhay is a all-weather low-cost long-range cruise missile with stealth and high accuracy.

Nirbhay's maiden test flight last year had to be terminated mid-way as there were deviations in its course.A

"We had 95 percent success last time, but the missile was partially deviating from its path," a DRDO official told IANS.

The official said glitches in the missile's inertial navigation system had been ironed out.

"Once launched, the missile flies independently like an aircraft. As it flies low, there is lesser chance of it being detected on radars," the official said.

Balasore is 640 km north of Vishakhapatnam along the eastern coast, and is site of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program's Integrated Test Range, located 18 km south of Balasore.

Balasore witnessed flash floods during cyclone Phailin last year.

This time, heavy rains have been witnessed following the storm.