News-11 Jan 13: INDIA TESTS ITS INTERCEPTOR MISSILE SUCCESSFULLY

INDIA TESTED ITS INTERCEPTOR MISSILE SUCCESSFULLY

India on November 23, 2012 successfully test-fired an indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile capable of destroying a hostile ballistic missile from a test ranges, off the Odisha coast.

The test was conducted to validate various parameters of the interceptor in flight mode, said a defence source.

The 'hostile' ballistic missile, a modified surface-to-surface 'Prithvi', mimicking an incoming enemy weapon, first lifted off from a mobile launcher at around 12.52 hours from the launch complex-3 of integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-Sea.

Within about four minutes, the interceptor, advanced air defence (AAD) missile positioned at Wheeler Island, about 70 km from Chandipur, after getting signals from tracking radars, roared through its trajectory to destroy the incoming missile mid-air, in an 'endo-atmospheric' altitude.

The interceptor is a 7.5-metre-long single-stage solid rocket, propelled guided  missile  equipped  with  a navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electromechanical activator, the sources said.

It will act as a Shield for the Nation

ü  An interceptor is fired to counter an incoming enemy missile. The interceptor destroys the incoming missile before it lands on the ground.

ü  The previous interceptor trial conducted on February 10, 2012 from the same base was also successful.

ü  India also has an existing ballistic missile defence programme to develop and deploy a multi-layered missile defence system to protect the country from ballistic missile attacks.