Indigenous missile test-fired

India on Sunday successfully test-fired indigenously developed supersonic Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile from Abdul Kalam Island (formerly Wheeler Island), off Orissa coast. The target missile — a modified version of Prithvi mimicking an incoming hostile missile — was launched at 11.15 am from a naval platform and the interceptor, positioned at Launch Pad-3 of Integrated Test Range at Abdul Kalam Island, roared into the sky to hit its target at 11.18 am. “The test has been successful,” a source in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) that conducted the test-firing said. The interceptor is capable of destroying any incoming hostile ballistic missile. The AAD used its own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception, independent tracking and homing capabilities and radar systems, the source added. Earlier in April 2015, the AAD missile had failed to hit the target missile during a similar test from the test range. The missile nosedived into Bay of Bengal.

A few moments after taking off from a mobile launcher. In July 26, 2010 also the test was unsuccessful. Even though the missile was again tested against an electronic target on November 22, 2015, the actual test targeting a real missile was pending since then as the system was not ready.

Sunday’s success is likely to pave the way for its induction in the armed forces.

Notably, the 7.5-meter long single stage solid rocket propelled guided AAD interceptor is an anti-ballistic missile designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in the endo-atmosphere at an altitude of 40 km.

It is equipped with a navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activator. It weighs around 1.2 tonnes and has a diameter of less than 0.5 m.

It was the twelfth test of interceptor missiles. Of the 11 tests held earlier, nine have been successful.

The missiles, so far, have been test fired in endo-atmospheric region (below the altitude of 40 km) on eight occasions and three in exo-atmosphere (above an altitude of 80 km) region.