India on Sunday
successfully test-fired a new interceptor missile capable of neutralising any
incoming long-range missile at higher altitude.
The interceptor, positioned at launch padIV of
Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island, about 100 km from Balasore, roared
into the sky at about 9.10 AM to hit its target. The target, mimicking an
incoming enemy missile, was first test fired from a naval ship at 9.06 AM and
after getting signals from the radars, the interceptor went into action.
"The trial was conducted successfully and all
the mission objectives were met," DRDO Spokesman Ravi Kumar Gupta told
over phone.
The details of the 'kill effect' of the interceptor
missile were analysed after retrieving all the data from various radars and
telemetry stations, an official said. Earlier
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is the premier
agency to develop such a sophisticated interceptor, had successfully tested six
interceptor missiles developed by it, both in endo-atmosphere (within 30 km
altitude above sea level and exo-atmosphere stage (above 30 km altitude).
The Prithvi Air Defence interceptor missile has
already demonstrated its killing capability at an altitude of 50 km and 80 km
while the Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile has smashed the target
missile at an altitude of 15 km to 30 km. Now the target is to achieve the
interception at an altitude of above 100 km of a long range missile, defence
sources said.
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