India's indigenous subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay , which failed its last test in December 2015, is ready for its fifth trial, DRDO chief S. Christopher said on Sunday. "We are planning to have one probable trial (of the missile ) next week," Christopher told IANS on the sidelines of a three-day international conference Fipsphysiocon-2017, organised by the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences.The DRDO chief said the glitches that led to failure in its fourth trial in December last year, have been removed.According to sources, the problem was related to the software of the missile and has been resolved. This time, the missile will also have a turbojet engine instead of the turbofan engine used so far.Nirbhay's December 2016 trial was aborted half-way as the missile changed its targeted course. It had to be destroyed within minutes of taking off amid a threat that the missile could hit land.The 750-1,000 km-long range missile's first test on March 12, 2013, failed as it fell after 20 minutes of flight. It can fly at different altitudes ranging from 500 meters to 4 kilometres above ground and can fly at tree level to avoid detection by radar.It is capable of delivering 24 different types of warheads depending on mission requirements and uses an inertial navigation system for guidance.

Source: Economic Times November 05, 2017 12:33 UTC