INDIA SUCCESSFULLY TESTS MISSILE INTERCEPTOR

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, March 7 (Bernama) -- India achieved another milestone in the
defence industry after it successfully developed and tested its own indigenous
ballistic missile interceptor that can destroy enemy missiles.

The interceptor would be part of the ballistic missile defence (BMD) shield
developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which
could destroy incoming ballistic missiles at an altitude of between 50km and
80km.

Indian military experts conducted the test on Wheeler's Island, off the
coast of Orissa, Friday.

"India on Friday inched closer towards its endeavour to put in place its own
home-grown ballistic missile defence system as it successfully carried out the
third interceptor test from the Integrated Test Range (ITR).

"Friday's test achieved all the mission objectives. The two-stage
Interceptor
Missile fitted with advanced systems hit the target enemy missile at 75km
altitude," said a DRDO statement released after the test.


DRDO had developed a two-tier BMD programme -- the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)
missile for high altitude interception and the Advanced Air Defence (AAD) for
lower level interception.

This is the third interception trial done by DRDO, the first being in 2006
and the second in 2007, all demonstrating the robustness of the Indian-made BMD
capabilities, added the statement.

-- BERNAMA