NEW DELHI: India successfully test-fired its first domestically built nuclear-capable and long-range cruise missile on Friday, marking another step in building up the country’s defence prowess.

The ‘Nirbhay’, or ‘fearless’, missile blasted off from a mobile launcher at the Integrated Missile Test Range in Chandipur in the eastern state of Orissa, the Press Trust of India reported.

“The trial was totally successful,” a senior government official associated with the launch told the news agency.

“The outcome of the trial was ascertained by analysing the data retrieved from radars and telemetry points,” the official said.

Unlike other ballistic missiles, Nirbhay has a wing and tail fins. The missile is intended to cruise like an aircraft, helped by its small fins, and can be launched from land, sea and air.

The surface-to-surface missile is fitted with a turbojet engine and is capable of flying at low altitudes to avoid detection. It can even hover near the target, striking from any direction without being seen on radar.

With a range of up to 1,000 kilometres, it gives India the capability to strike “deep into enemy territory”, NDTV news network reported.

The Nirbhay is regarded by military experts as India’s version of the US Tomahawk cruise missiles.

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.

India, which shares borders with Pakistan and China, both of which are nuclear-armed, is developing the missile system to strengthen its air-defence capabilities.

India already has in its arsenal the supersonic BrahMos missile which it developed jointly with Russia.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2014