Interceptor missile successfully test fired
India on Friday successfully test fired indigenously developed Advanced Air Defence (AAD) supersonic interceptor missile showcasing the country’s capability to destroy enemy missiles and protect important cities, civilian and defence installations.
The tests were conducted over the Bay of Bengal off Odisha’s north coastal districts of Balasore and Bhadrak.
Official sources said, at 12:51 pm on Friday, a modified Prithvi missile christened as “enemy” or “hostile” missile was fired from launch pad three at the Interim Test Range of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) missile testing centre located at Chandipur in Balasore district.
As soon as radars installed at different places on the Odisha coastline identified the hostile missile, the 7.5 meter long interceptor missile equipped with a navigation system, a high tech computer and electro mechanical activator was fired from launch pad four of another DRDO missile testing centre located 70 kms away at Wheelers Island in Bhadrak district.
“Within four minutes after the ‘enemy’ missile took off from Chandipur, the interceptor missile tracked and destroyed it at an altitude of about 15 kms over the Bay of Bengal,” sources said.
The tests often described as “missile-versus-missile” test had its first flight in November 2006. The last successful test was held in February.
Several DRDO scientists besides V K Saraswat, scientific advisor to Union defence minister A K Antony were present at Wheelers Island.
