1) What is the name of India’s nuclear-capable cruise missile developed
with indigenous technology by the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) that was successfully test fired on 17 October 2014? – ‘Nirbhay’
Explanation: The
test was conducted from the Integrated Missile Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha.
Nirbhay’s first test was conducted on 12 March 2013 but it had to be
terminated in the middle as it deviated from its course about 20 minutes after
launch. So the 17 October launch became its first fully successful launch.
Nirbhay (which means fearless) is very manoeuvrable and can fly at tree-top
level, making it difficult to detect on radar, and strikes targets more than
700 km away carrying nuclear warheads, giving India the capability to strike
deep into enemy territory. Unlike other ballistic missiles like the Agni,
Nirbhay has a wing and pronounced tail fins. It launches like a missile and in
early flight the small wings get deployed. It then flies like an aircraft and
can even hover near the target, striking at will from any direction.
