Rare Footage of India’s Nirbhay Subsonic Cruise Missile goes viral, Highlighting its Advanced Sea-Skimming capabilities
A recently viral image of India's Nirbhay cruise missile has garnered widespread attention on social media platform X, showcasing the missile's remarkable sea-skimming capability. The image captures Nirbhay flying just 8 meters above the ocean surface, demonstrating its ability to avoid detection by warship radars. This impressive feat reinforces Nirbhay’s role as a key element in India's defense strategy, capable of neutralizing frontline warships while evading sophisticated radar systems.
shadow 🤤 pic.twitter.com/cumt7TTv9o
— vik (@ayoo_vik) October 2, 2024
While the image has gained viral attention, it is actually an older image first shared by renowned defense journalist Shir Anantha Krishnan in 2021. However, the missile’s sea-skimming maneuver, as depicted in the viral image, remains a crucial feature. By maintaining a low altitude just above the water, Nirbhay effectively avoids detection by enemy warship radars, which are typically configured to track threats approaching from higher altitudes. This low-level flight significantly reduces the missile's radar cross-section, making it difficult to spot until it is too close to react.
Remember tweeting a video of erstwhile Nirbhay's sea-skimming abilities during #DefExpo2020. Look at the clear shadow as the missile cruises at low-level. #ICTM-02 with STFE is scheduled for another test in 1-2-3-months. Best wishes to Team ADE. 🇮🇳#Tarmak007 @akananth pic.twitter.com/eDdFyLxYqL
— Anantha Krishnan M🇮🇳 (@writetake) January 6, 2021
Flying just 8 meters above the water places Nirbhay within the "radar horizon," where many radar systems fail to detect low-flying objects due to the curvature of the Earth. This sea-skimming feature, combined with Nirbhay’s long-range capabilities, allows the missile to approach enemy naval vessels undetected, increasing its likelihood of successfully striking critical targets.
The ability to fly beneath radar detection is particularly useful for targeting advanced warships, such as destroyers, frigates, and aircraft carriers. These vessels typically rely on multi-layered defense systems, including radar-guided surface-to-air missiles, to intercept incoming threats. Nirbhay's sea-skimming capability, however, allows it to bypass these defenses by staying out of radar range until the final moment.
In addition to its low-altitude flight capabilities, the Nirbhay cruise missile boasts excellent maneuverability, making it highly adaptable to various combat scenarios. Whether targeting naval ships or land-based assets, the missile’s terrain-hugging abilities enable it to execute evasive maneuvers, reducing its vulnerability to interception by enemy defenses.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Nirbhay is India’s long-range, precision-guided cruise missile. With a range of around 1,000 kilometers, it can strike both land and sea targets with high accuracy. Powered by a turbojet engine, Nirbhay travels at subsonic speeds while maintaining a low radar profile, enhancing its stealth capabilities.
Nirbhay’s versatility is one of its greatest strengths. It can be equipped with either conventional or nuclear warheads, making it suitable for a wide range of missions, from precision strikes to large-scale offensives. Its ability to carry multiple types of warheads adds to its strategic importance, positioning Nirbhay as a vital asset in India’s defense arsenal.
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