India has successfully flight tested its advanced long-range NIRBHAY cruise missile
Balasore: The Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur observed its 35th Lab Raising Day on Sunday.
ITR director B.K. Das said: "With the successful accomplishment of missions, the range has proved its efficacy and now it is second to none in the world. Recently, we conducted two very successful missions. One is the Nirbhay missile, the first indigenously designed and developed long range sub-sonic cruise missile. Another is testing the Brahmos air version anti-shipping missile."
The range is a premier defence research and development (R&D) establishment that conducts tests and evaluates rockets and airborne systems.
"Besides, the test fire of these missiles, performance evaluation of several other missiles are being successfully conducted," Das said.
Former ITR director S.C. Narang remembered his days at the Chandipur station and said the test range had been transformed into a world-class range with its infrastructure and skilled manpower.
"We have still a long way to go though this range has created a niche for itself globally in terms of its indispensable contribution towards test and evaluation for Indian missile systems," he added.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, director Dr Gitanjali Batmanabane lauded ITR's co-operation in extending health care services to the people of Balasore and neighbouring districts.
"ITR extended support for AIIMS's outdoor centre in Balasore. The satellite centre is now functioning from the ITR premises," she said.