DRDO Successfully Conducts Flight-Test Of Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile Off Odisha Coast

DRDO Successfully Conducts Flight-Test Of Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile Off Odisha Coast

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Thursday conducted a successful flight-test of Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha.

DRDO said that the flight test was successful and all subsystems performed as per expectation during the test.

"The missile performance was monitored by several Range Sensors like Radar, Electro Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and Telemetry deployed by ITR at different locations to ensure complete coverage of the flight path," an agency statement said.

The agency also said that the missile followed the desired path using way point navigation and demonstrated very low-altitude sea-skimming flight. It also established the reliable performance of the indigenous propulsion system developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bengaluru.

The flight of the missile was monitored from the Su-30-Mk-I aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

The missile is also equipped with advanced avionics and software to ensure better and reliable performance. The missile has been developed by Bengaluru-based DRDO laboratory Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) along with contributions from other industries.

The test was witnessed by many senior scientists from various DRDO laboratories along with the representatives from the production partner, the agency said.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO for the successful flight-test of the ITCM and stated that successful development of indigenous long range subsonic cruise missile powered by indigenous propulsion is a major milestone for Indian defence R&D.

Reacting to the development, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated DRDO on the successful flight test.

"Congratulate DRDO on the successful flight-test of Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM), a long-range subsonic cruise missile powered by indigenous propulsion system, from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha," Patnaik said in a post on X.