Interceptor missile test fired successfully

Balasore (PTI) In a leap forward to
fortify its skies, India on Sunday successfully test-fired its
indigenously developed interceptor missile which destroyed a
'hostile' target ballistic missile, a modified Prithvi, at an
altitude of 16 km over the Bay of Bengal.
The 'hostile' target ballistic missile, a modified
surface-to-surface 'Prithvi', was first lifted off from a
mobile launcher around 0933 hours from the launch complex-3 of
ITR at Chandipur-on-Sea, 15 km from here.
In less than three minutes, the interceptor, Advanced
Air Defence (AAD) missile positioned at Wheeler Island, about
70 km across sea from Chandipur, received signals from
tracking radars installed along the coastline and travelled
through the sky at a speed of 4.5 Mach to destroy it.
ITR Director S P Dash said the interceptor hit the
'target' missile at an altitude of about 16 km over the Bay.
"It was a fantastic launch. The trial, conducted from
two launch sites of ITR off Orissa coast for developing a full
fledged multi-layer Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system,
was fully successful," he said.
"Detailed results and the 'kill' effect of the
interceptor were being ascertained by analysing data from
multiple tracking sources," a Defence Research Development
(DRDO) scientist said soon after the trial.
The interceptor designed for endo-atmospheric
condition (up to 30 km altitude) is a seven-meter long and
single stage solid rocket propelled guided missile, equipped
with an inertial navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an
electro-mechanical activator under command by the data
uplinked from sophisticated ground based radars.
The interceptor designed for exo-atmospheric condition
is a two stage missile.
As a safety measure, the Balasore district
administration had temporarily shifted 401 civilian families
comprising a total of 3221 people, residing within two km
radius of ITR launch pad-3 at Chandipur this morning to the
nearby shelter centres.

As the trial was aimed at achieving the desired result
with precision, the interceptor missile had its own mobile
launcher, secure data link for interception, independent
tracking and homing capabilities and sophisticated radars,
sources said.
This is for the sixth time that DRDO scientists are
testing the interceptor missile.
The previous trials were conducted on November 27,
2006, December 6, 2007 and March 6, 2009 from Wheeler Island.
The fourth test which was scheduled in mid March 2010 was
put-off twice. Due to some technical glitches in the
sub-system of the missile, the mission was aborted prior to
take off on March 14.
The next day on March 15, 2010 the target missile,
modified 'Prithvi' deviated from its pre-determined
trajectory, which forced the scientists of DRDO to put-off the
launch of the interceptor missile in last minutes.
However, the last trial, fifth in its series,
conducted on July 26, 2010 incorporating some new technologies
to the interceptor missile was a success.