DRDO conducted the successful launch of the interceptor missile Advanced Area Defence (AAD) from Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
The endo-atmospheric missile, capable of intercepting incoming targets at an altitude of 15 to 25 kms successfully destroyed the incoming missile.
The weapon system radars tracked the target and provided the initial guidance to the interceptor which could precisely home on to the target and destroyed it in endo-atmospheric layer.
The complete event including the engagement and destruction was tracked by a number of electro-optical tracking systems using infrared imagery.
Radars and telemetry stations tracked the target and the interceptor till the destruction of the target. The launch has proved the Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) prowess of the country.
The launch has proved the Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) prowess of the country.
This the second time that the missile has been test-fired in less than a month and is a major step towards making the country’s two-tier ballistic missile defence (BMD) system operational.
Advanced Air Defense missile is a terminal phase interception system capable of intercepting missiles after they enter the earth’s atmosphere.
The interceptor is a 7.5-meter long single stage solid rocket propelled guided missile equipped with a navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activator
The interceptor missile is equipped with its own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception, independent tracking and homing capabilities and sophisticated radars.
India has been working since 1999 on a two-tiered ballistic missile defense system with the PAD (Prithvi Air Defense) and PDV (Prithvi Defense Vehicle) designed to destroy enemy missiles at altitudes of 50–150 kilometers and the Advanced Air Defense missile at altitudes of 20-40 kilometers.
This successful test comes less than a month after India tested the Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) interceptor missile on February 11. Now with both AAD and PDV systems, India has become the fourth country to have developed a multi-layered BMD programme after the US, Russia and Israel.
The interceptor missiles, which can provide an air-shield against hostile attacks, are likely to be deployed at the Indo-Pak and Sino-Indian borders.
