Interceptor missile engages simulated target over sea

India’s ballistic missile defence system received a boost on Sunday after an upgraded version of the indigenously developed interceptor missile was successfully launched against an electronically simulated target missile over the Bay of Bengal.

Immediately after receiving signals from the radars, the upgraded interceptor missile, AAD (Advanced Air Defence), lifted off at 9.40 a.m. from the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island to destroy in endo-atmosphere the incoming missile.

Conditions similar to the launch of a target missile from Balasore were simulated and upon receiving its coordinates, the interceptor, travelling at supersonic speed, engaged the “virtual target” in mid-flight at an altitude of 15 km.

Missile technologists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) equipped the upgraded AAD with composite rocket motor casings. Informed sources said this would enable the missile to carry a bigger warhead, reduce the cost and facilitate faster production of the missile.

The previous trial of the upgraded AAD failed in April this year when the missile plummeted(fall or drop straight down at high speed) into sea within seconds of lift-off.

India plans to deploy a two-tiered ballistic missile defence system to protect important cities and vital installations from enemy attack.

The first phase of the system seeks to destroy incoming enemy missiles of 2,000-km range, while the second phase envisages(forecast) killing incoming missiles of more than 2,000 km.

Nine tests successful

With Sunday’s mission, the DRDO has conducted 11 interceptor missile tests. While eight of the missions were in endo-atmosphere, the rest were in exo-atmosphere. Nine of the missions have been successful.

Data that may be helpful:

Important Points :-

• The missile defense battle space is divided between intercepts in the atmosphere, what is called endo-atmospheric, and out of the atmosphere, what is called exo-atmospheric. An endoatmospheric missile is one that remains within the earth's atmosphere, i.e., at an altitude below 100 kilometers.

Source  : The Hindu,23-Nov-2015