Subsonic cruise missile test terminated

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NEW DELHI, March 12 (UPI) -- The first test of India's indigenously developed subsonic cruise missile was stopped Tuesday when the projectile deviated from its course, scientists said.

The missile, named Nirbhay and capable of being launched from land, sea and air, however, succeeded in its base mission objectives and satisfactorily performed some maneuvers before being destroyed, Indian Defense Research and Development Organization spokesman Ravi Gupta said.

"Nirbhay was successfully launched today at 11:50 a.m. from launch complex, Chandipur, Odisha, meeting the basic mission objectives successfully," Gupta said in a release.

"After traveling approximately midway, deviations were observed from its intended course. Further flight was terminated to ensure coastal safety."

Nirbhay was reported to have good loitering capability, control and guidance, high degree of accuracy in terms of impact and good stealth features.

The missile was developed at a DRDO laboratory in Bangalore.

India already has the technology for super-sonic missiles like BrahMos with a strike range of 180 miles, the report said.