India successfully test-fires interceptor missile

India successfully test-fires interceptor missile

Indiaon Monday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed interceptor missile, capable of destroying any in-coming hostile ballistic missile, from theIntegratedTestRangeatWheelerIslandoff Orissa coast.

Aimed at developing a full-fledged multi-layer Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system, the trial was carried out from two launchsites of ITR off the Orissa coast, defence sources said on Monday.

The whole exercise is to achieve the desired result with precision, said a senior defence scientist.

The target missile, a modified surface-to-surface 'Prithvi' was first lifted off from a mobile launcher at10:05 amfrom the launch complex-3 of ITR at Chandipur-on-sea, 15 km from Balasore.


The interceptor "AAD" missile, positioned atWheelerIsland, about 70 km across sea from Chandipur getting signals from radars tracked it a few minutes later and than intercepted at a definite altitude in the mid-air over the sea, the sources said.

While the test launch of both target and hit missiles were deemed success from their respective test sites, detailed results, specifically the 'kill' effects of the interceptor will be known after all data analysis from multiple tracking sources, a defenceofficial said soon after both the missiles roared into the overcast sky leaving behind a thin layer of smoke.

An "AAD" missile was used as interceptor at low altitude, the sources said, adding that the indigenously developed new hypersonic interceptor missiles was designed to be engaged in endo and exo atmospheric condition.

The interceptor designed for endo-atmospheric condition (up to 30 km altitude) is a seven-metre-long and single stage solid rocket propelled guided missile, equipped with an inertial navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activatortotally under command by the data up-linked from the sophisticated ground based radars to the interceptor.

Similarly, the interceptor designed for exo-atmospheric condition is a two-stage missile with a maximum interception altitude of80 km, they said.

The interceptor missile had its own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception, independent tracking and homing capabilities and its own radars.

This is the fourth time that the DRDO has tested its intercepting missile. The three previous tests were conducted on27thNovember 2006,6thDecember 2007and6thMarch 2009fromWheelerIsland.

The fourth test which was scheduled in mid-March was put-off twice and considered abandoned.

Due to some technical snags in the sub-system of the missile, the mission was aborted prior to take off on 14thMarch.

The next day the target missile deviated from its pre-determined trajectory, which forced the scientists of DRDO to put-off the trial of the interceptor missile, the sources said.

As a safety measure, the Balasore district administration had temporarily shifted about 400 civilian families residing within two km radius of the ITR launch pad-3 at Chandipur from where the target missile was test fired.(DD-26.7)