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India Defence Online, New Delhi — India has once again proven its ballistic missile defence capability with its indigenously developed interceptor missile successfully destroying a hostile target ballistic missile in the Bay of Bengal. The trial consisted of firing an interceptor missile to destroy the incoming hostile ballistic missile at an altitude of 16 kilometres.
The trial was carried out from two launch sites of the integrated test range in Chandipur off the Orissa coast to develop a full-fledged, multi-layer ballistic missile defence system. The ‘hostile’ target ballistic missile, a modified surface-to-surface ‘Prithvi’ missile, was lifted from a mobile launcher at Chandipur, 15 kilometres from Orissa. As per the reports, in a few minutes the interceptor which was an advanced air defence (AAD) missile positioned 70 kilometres across the sea from Chandipur at Wheeler Island, received signals from radars installed along the coastline and destroyed the target missile while travelling at a speed of 4.5 Mach. The AAD was a single-stage supersonic missile and the interceptor had its own mobile launcher, secure data link, independent tracking and homing capabilities and sophisticated radars. The interceptor had a specially designed directional warhead which homed-in on the target and caused maximum damage. The interceptor boasted new technologies such as directional warhead, fibre-optic gyroscopes and a radio-frequency seeker that guided the interceptor to attack the incoming enemy missile.
Both these missiles are developed by state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and this is the DRDO’s sixth interceptor mission out of which five have been successful. The current launch has enabled the perfection of interception in the endo-atmospheric zone which lies below an altitude of 50 kilometres. Earlier trials have been held in exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric zones.
According to Dr.V.K Saraswat, DRDO Director-General and head of India’s interceptor missile programme, the ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) programme has progressed satisfactorily and India has garnered a place among the top five countries with such advanced systems. As of now, these advanced systems are ready for integration into the air defence assets of the country which will establish a reliable ballistic missile shield. Dr. Saraswat added that the next test would be done later this year to intercept a 2000-kilometer-range incoming missile at an altitude of 150 kilometres.
According to the DRDO, the Ballistic Missile Defence System is being developed in two phases under a capability-based deployment plan. The first phase will entail the development and deployment of a system for defence against missiles with less than 2,000 kilometre range. In the second phase, system capability will be upgraded to defend against missiles with ranges greater than 2,000 kilometres that can additionally deploy more manoeuvres. The first phase is to be deployed by 2012 and second phase system by 2016. The Phase 2 system will require longer range radars and new hypersonic interceptor missiles flying at Mach 6 or 7 with greater stealth and capacity to act against ballistic missile defence counter measures. In other words, there will be greater interception at high altitudes wherein the system will manage multiple attacks.
Indian defence news and strategic intelligence
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