|
The indigenous interceptor was fired July 26th
from Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast near
Dhamra in Bhadrak district, about 170 km from
state capital Bhubaneswar.
It successfully destroyed an incoming ballistic
missile - a variant of the Prithvi II that lifted
off from Launch Complex-III of the Integrated
Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea in Balasore
district, about 70 km from Wheeler Island across
the sea.
 The
single stage interceptor, fitted with a directional
warhead and other advanced systems, neutralized
the target at an altitude of 15 km in the endo-atmosphere
(upto a height of 30 km).
"It was a very successful flight. The interceptor
destroyed the target," S.P. Dash, the director
of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, told
IANS.
The interceptor missile was fired few minutes
after the target missile was fired. The interceptor
neutralized the target missile, breaking it into
fragments.
This was tracked by various radars and sensors.
All weapon system elements including command and
control, communication and radar performed satisfactorily,
he said.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony spoke to Defence
Research and Development Organization (DRDO) chief
V.K. Sarswat over the phone and congratulated
the scientists for the successful test.
The test was witnessed by several scientists
and defence officials. They included DRDO chief
Saraswat, Director of the Advanced Systems Laboratory
(ASL), Hyderabad Avinash Chandar and Chief Controller
(DRDO) K. Shekhar.
DRDO is developing a twin shield defence - the
Advanced Air Defence (AAD) system for endo-atmospheric
interception and the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)
missile for exo-atmospheric (50-80 km) interception.
India plans to deploy the first phase of the
defence shield by 2012 after completing a series
of trials and evaluating their target rang.
(IANS)
|
