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Nirbhay cruise missile passes key test, but reliability still a question

India hasn't claimed nuclear capability for Nirbhay, even as Pakistan portrays Babur as a nuclear delivery platform

Nirbhay cruise missile
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Nirbhay cruise missile

Ajai Shukla
The Nirbhay cruise missile that the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired on Tuesday, is a version of America’s iconic Tomahawk cruise missile, made famous by CNN videos of the 1991 Gulf War, showing Tomahawk’s flying along Baghdad streets and entering target buildings through doors and windows.
 
Yet, despite Tuesday’s success, Nirbhay remains an inconsistent performer. It has not yet demonstrated the reliability needed for launching nuclear weapons, which require a delivery platform that is both reliable and accurate.
 
Three of the four earlier Nirbhaya tests ended in failure, making the outcome of this test crucial for