India Defence Research and Development Organisation
Nirbhay
An Indian long-range, subsonic land-attack cruise missile designed for deep-strike missions against ground targets from road-mobile launchers. It gives India an indigenous Tomahawk-class weapon complementing the supersonic BrahMos.
In service since 2019
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
1,000
km range
0.8
Mach
200
kg warhead
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
National export licensing
Subject to India export-control approval; verify eligibility with the manufacturer.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
In service since 2019. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 0.8 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 1,000 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 200 kg |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | High-explosive fragmentation |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Inertial navigation, GPS, Terrain-reference navigation |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 6 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 1,500 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbofan with solid rocket booster |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public Defence Research and Development Organisation and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Boeing AGM-86 ALCM Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the Defence Research and Development Organisation Nirbhay? +
The Defence Research and Development Organisation Nirbhay has a maximum range of 1,000 km.
How much does the Defence Research and Development Organisation Nirbhay weigh? +
The Defence Research and Development Organisation Nirbhay has a combat weight of 1,500 kg.
What is the Defence Research and Development Organisation Nirbhay used for? +
The Defence Research and Development Organisation Nirbhay is a missile typically used for deep strike.
How much does the Defence Research and Development Organisation Nirbhay cost? +
Defence Research and Development Organisation Nirbhay: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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