BALASORE: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Sunday conducted a developmental trial of an advanced version of low altitude supersonic ballistic interceptor missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Odisha coast.
The Advance Air Defence (AAD) missile dubbed as Aswin was fired at about 9.45 am from the Adbul Kalam Island (formerly known as Wheeler Island) against an electronically generated target paving the way for its early deployment in the armed forces. The interceptor was launched a few minutes after the electronic target was fired.
Defence sources said prior to the launch of the most advanced interceptor missile, an electronically simulated target with a range of over 1,500 kms was launched and the tracking systems picked up the target missile, tracked it subsequently and provided command to launch the interceptor missile.
This was 11th test of the interceptor missile and second in eight months. While the April 6 test was a failure, there is no official confirmation from the DRDO about the outcome of this trial. The missile was initially planned for the test in September and then October, but deferred as the system was not ready.
While the local ITR authorities were tight-lipped, Director General of DRDO Selvin Christopher did not respond calls. A DRDO scientist on the condition of anonymity claimed that the missile has demonstrated its killing capability.
Long range radar and multi-function fire control radar located far away successfully detected the missile from take-off and tracked it through its entire path. The total trajectory of the incoming missile was continuously estimated by the guidance computer and subsequently the AAD missile was launched at an appropriate time to counter and kill the target missile.
The scientist claimed that the Fibre Optic Gyro (FOG) based INS in interceptor, on-board computers, guidance systems, actuation systems and the critical Radio Frequency (RF) seekers used for the terminal phase have performed excellently.
Indigenously developed by DRDO, the AAD interceptor is a single-stage missile powered by solid propellants. It is 7.5 metres tall and weighs around 1.2 tonnes. It has a diameter of less than 0.5 metre. The target missile is fuelled by liquid propellants. It is 11 metres tall and weighs five tonnes. Its diameter is one metre.
The DRDO has developed both high-altitude and low-altitude anti-ballistic missiles. The test assumes significance as India plans to deploy a two-tiered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system to protect its important cities and vital installations from enemy attack.
While the first phase seeks to destroy incoming enemy missiles in exo-atmospheric region (outside the atmosphere), the second phase envisages killing enemy missiles of more than 2,000 km range in endo-atmospheric (inside the atmosphere) region.