DRDO Eyes to Develop Nirbhay Anti-Ship Naval Variant Within Next 12-18 Months, Air-Launched Variant Also On The Cards

DRDO's Advanced Defence Establishment (ADE) is making strides in the development of the Nirbhay missile program. After successfully completing the land-based Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) variant and its precursor, the ITCM, ADE is now actively working on a naval variant of the Nirbhay cruise missile.

The upcoming phase will focus on developing a ship-launched anti-ship version of the Nirbhay, which will be integrated with a frontline warship for further developmental trials. DRDO's prior development of the Universal Vertical Launch Module (UVLM) cells, necessary for the Nirbhay program, will enable smoother integration with the naval platform.

Testing for the anti-ship variant is anticipated within the next 12-18 months, depending on the successful integration of UVLM cells into the designated warship.

In addition to the naval variant, ADE is also pursuing the development of a powerful air-launched variant of Nirbhay with 1,000 km-range.

The successful development of these Nirbhay variants will provide India with a crucial long-range weapon for air, land and sea attack capabilities. The land-based version reinforces long-range deterrence, while the ship-launched and anti-ship variants offer the Indian Navy a strategic advantage in maritime operations.

 

[sanket]

That was i saying Air-Launch version with 1000 kM But some were saying it will b too heavy , Good News it should b Further develop to 1500 kM.

 

[Sandeep]

No matter how much it costs or how long it take's, but hopefully not that long, India needs to develop a 1000+km cheap subsonic missile that can be launched by land, air and by sea. This is a critical necessity as we can’t keep on making foreign expensive imports or relying on some components for some missiles either. India has to develop a 100% indigenous missile if it wants to become self reliant as there’s no alternative.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

No matter how much it costs or how long it take's, but hopefully not that long, India needs to develop a 1000+km cheap subsonic missile that can be launched by land, air and by sea. This is a critical necessity as we can’t keep on making foreign expensive imports or relying on some components for some missiles either. India has to develop a 100% indigenous missile if it wants to become self reliant as there’s no alternative.

We have no 1000km+ imported missile. We have no other choice but to develop it ourselves

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

That was i saying Air-Launch version with 1000 kM But some were saying it will b too heavy , Good News it should b Further develop to 1500 kM.

I guess , Only Su-30mki & Rafale ( If Dassault allows ) would be able to launch it

 

[desigandu]

Good, we need long range 1000-2500 km, depending on variant sub sonic cruise missiles with Universal VLS cell from ships, subs and planes…the planes need to carry a smaller version of 1000 km range but the ship and subs must be with UVLS launchers (quad packed) with a range of 2500 km with mid course guidance and ISR/tracking etc from a VLEO/ LEO constellation…low cost but deployed in large numbers with a CEP on 10meters….Jai Hind…Jai Bharat…

 

[wallisk]

We have no 1000km+ imported missile. We have no other choice but to develop it ourselves

Can buy 4000 kms ranges Kalibir missiles from Roos though...

 

[wallisk]

I guess , Only Su-30mki & Rafale ( If Dassault allows ) would be able to launch it

F15EX is coming soon...

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

F15EX is coming soon...

No chance , F-15Ex is a heavy category Aircraft equivalent to Su-30Mki , the requirement is of a medium category Aircraft ( Single seater ) , We have never bought a US aircraft in history.

India already finalised Dassault in the earlier tender but bought only 36 aircrafts due to budget issues...

 

[Pramkumar]

air launched and Ship launched means we are developing the misslie belongs to TOMHAWK group and Kaliber group.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Can buy 4000 kms ranges Kalibir missiles from Roos though...

There is limit of 300kms on import export of missiles due to MTCR. That is why the brahmos we exported to phillipines is of 300km range.

And kalibr missiles dont have 4000km range. There is no cruise missile in the world with 4000km range. That is ICBM territory

 

[Akshat]

There is limit of 300kms on import export of missiles due to MTCR. That is why the brahmos we exported to phillipines is of 300km range.

And kalibr missiles dont have 4000km range. There is no cruise missile in the world with 4000km range. That is ICBM territory

MTCR members can trade in missiles of longer ranges. That's why Brahmos' range was upgraded after India entered MTCR.

But yes, Kalibr doesn't have that range.

 

[Akshat]

'On a roll', 'successful development' etc. are fine, but none of these missiles have cleared development phase and is not yet ready for induction. That's classic DRDO for you.

 

[beencensured]

No matter how much it costs or how long it take's, but hopefully not that long, India needs to develop a 1000+km cheap subsonic missile that can be launched by land, air and by sea. This is a critical necessity as we can’t keep on making foreign expensive imports or relying on some components for some missiles either. India has to develop a 100% indigenous missile if it wants to become self reliant as there’s no alternative.

THEY MUST KEEP COST T ABOUT 10-20 LAKH EACH SO WE CAN AFFORD TO BUY TEN THOUSAND OF THEM AND COMPETE WITH Iranian AS PER COST AND Houthis. Torpedo tube launched variant might be invaluable.

 

[Sandeep]

We have no 1000km+ imported missile. We have no other choice but to develop it ourselves

Yes I know we don’t import a 1000+km missile. I’m just talking about not having to import any foreign expensive missile. We have to develop it indigenously.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

MTCR members can trade in missiles of longer ranges. That's why Brahmos' range was upgraded after India entered MTCR.

But yes, Kalibr doesn't have that range.

The MTCR applies to exports to members and non-members. i dont know where you read that Countries which join MTCR can export missiles to each other that have range exceeding 300km.

advantage of joining MTCR is that the members can sell technology to each other freely.

 

[kumar]

We need these missiles in thousands. Mass manufacturing should start.

 

[Sandeep]

THEY MUST KEEP COST T ABOUT 10-20 LAKH EACH SO WE CAN AFFORD TO BUY TEN THOUSAND OF THEM AND COMPETE WITH Iranian AS PER COST AND Houthis. Torpedo tube launched variant might be invaluable.

I’m talking more about the price to develop the missiles and launchers. But we also need to keep the cost of manufacturing a missile as low as possible which can only happen when they are ordered regularly in large numbers which we will need.

 

[Prit]

'On a roll', 'successful development' etc. are fine, but none of these missiles have cleared development phase and is not yet ready for induction. That's classic DRDO for you.

Pralay, Prithvi, Dhanush, Agni, k-4, K-15, etc. The list is long for DRDO made missiles in service. If you're talking about Nirbhay, it's deployed in limited numbers along LAC. Money is limited while the 'buy list' is long. Nirbhay is down in the list.