India Successfully Tests ABM capacity

[Bull]

In a major breakthrough, country's defence scientists on Monday successfully carried out a surface to surface missile interception over the Bay of Bengal, brightening the prospects of development of an indigenous anti-missile shield.

A target Prithvi missile was launched from the Interim Missile Test Range at Chandipur at 1015 hours, its trajectory continuously monitored and then successfully intercepted by another missile fired from the Wheeler Islands.

Though, the Navy has successfully conducted missile interceptions over sea using Israeli Barak missiles, this was for the first time that defence scientists successfully carried out interception of surface-to-surface missile, which could bring some relief as India actively faces a threat from the presence of nuclear capable missile in the neighbourhood.

The interceptor missile, which was in anti-missile mode, was not identified by the Defence Research and Development Organisation officials. "The interceptor missile had inertial guidance mid-course and active-seeker guidance in its terminal phase," they said.

The DRDO had for years been working on making Trishul missile into an indigenous anti-missile system, trying to incorporate into it the capability of taking on multi-targets at the same time. But the missile had failed many of its critical tests.

"The country has achieved a significant milestone in missile defence system," a Defence Ministry official said in New Delhi after the reports of successful interception came in.

"We have acquired air defence capability against incoming missile," the official said, adding: "The success of the mission assumes significance as DRDO scientists were able to 'continuously track the missile and feed its trajectory into computers to launch its interception."

Officials said the target missile interception time was programmed at 170/175 seconds while the missile from Wheeler Islands blasted off roughly 60 seconds later with interception time of 110/117 seconds. The distance between Chandipur, which is on the shoreline, and Wheeler Islands off the Dhamra coast in the Bay of Bengal, is about 72 km.

Faced with the failure of its Trishul project, India had been in negotiations with the US, Israel and Russia for procurement of an alternative anti-missile defence system.

"Notwithstanding the success of Monday's interception," Defence Ministry officials said, adding: "We will continue to observe the development of the US Patriot anti-missile shield as well as other competing systems."

Though the range of Prithvi missile system in its various marks ranges between 150 to 350 kms, DRDO officials said: "What is important was to validate the capability of interception. Once we develop this we can incorporate it in country's surface to surface missiles of various ranges."

Defence Minister A K Antony immediately patted DRDO scientists on the achievement, which comes in the midst of widespread criticism of the organisation over time and costs over-runs in its major projects, including the integrated guided missile development programme.

"Heartiest congratulations," Antony said in a message to the country's top missile scientists, including V K Saraswat, working on the key project.

Success with the missile interception could prove a shot in arm for the DRDO scientists who are now feeling confident to go ahead with re-testing of the country's most prestigious surface to surface missile, 3000-km range Agni-III. The maiden test of the missile ended as a dismal failure couple of months back.

Saraswat has been quoted as saying that DRDO might go ahead with the second trial of the missile early next year.

 

[Bull]

Sigh,Relieved. Finally they came ot with something that works...

 

[Goodperson]

You forgot the link

here a link from US source for convinience of some members

India claims successful missile interception test


NEW DELHI – India on Monday carried out its first successful test interception of a ballistic missile, using a second missile to destroy the incoming rocket, the Defense Ministry said.

If the interceptor missile – the medium-range and nuclear-capable Prithvi 2 missile – can be transformed into a viable defense system, it would push India into an elite club of nations with working missile shields.

Such a system would vastly boost India's defensive capabilities, especially against neighboring Pakistan. The longtime rivals are both nuclear-armed.

The Defense Ministry called the test “a significant milestone.”

According to the ministry, the first missile, a modified Prithvi 2 simulating the “adversary's missile,” was launched from the Chandipore test range about 155 miles north of Bhubaneswar, capital of India's Orissa state.

The interceptor, also a Prithvi, was fired a minute later from the Wheeler's Island missile testing center. The island is in the Bay of Bengal, about 105 miles north of Bhubaneswar.

In July, India reported a successful launch of the longer-range Agni 2 nuclear missile for a full day before acknowledging the test failed, with the missile plunging into the sea short of its target.

But this time, Defense Minister A.K. Antony was quick to convey “his heartiest congratulations” to the development team, the statement said.

Until now, the Prithvi had been used only as surface-to-surface missile.

A successful missile interception would represent a major advance for India, analysts said.

“The technology is hard and you have to be working for years,” said Robin Hughes, the deputy editor of Janes Defense Weekly. “If they have done that in the first test, it is an exceptional advance in technology.”

However, the true capabilities could only be known once India revealed more details about the system, he said.

Most of the technology was home grown and was “validated through this successful mission,” the defense ministry statement said.

The nuclear-capable Prithvi 2 can carry a conventional payload of up to 1,100 pounds and has a range of 155 miles. The move to modify it comes after the repeated failure of India's Trishul anti-missile project.

Gen. Ashok Mehta, a retired officer and military commentator, said it was only the first step in a process that would require at least 30 successful tests before the system could be brought online.

India has also been in talks with the Israel, the U.S. and Russia to buy a proven anti-missile defense system, and the Press Trust of India news agency quoted an unnamed defense officials as saying India would still pursue such options.

Mehta said the test was also a message to Pakistan, which does not any similar capacity.

The interceptor test comes a week after the firing of a single Prithvi 2 missile, and 10 days after Pakistan carried out a similar test of its nuclear-capable Ghauri missile, also known as the Hatf 5.

The tests came after the countries concluded a crucial round of peace talks in New Delhi aimed at resolving their differences, including the thorny issue of their territorial dispute over the Himalayan region of Kashmir.

India routinely test-fires missiles it is developing for military use, as does Pakistan. Both countries are usually informed ahead of time of the other's tests.

The official said that some 3,000 people from five villages within a radius of 125 miles from Chandipore were temporarily evacuated as a precaution for the test.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20061127-0633-india-missiletest.html

 

[MIG_ACE]

I highly doubt if the interceptor was a prithvi!! Whoever heard of a ballistic missile as an ABM system!!! Here's another source(indian i'm afraid) saying that it was a diff missile..

New Delhi, Nov. 27 (PTI): India today unveiled an indigenous supersonic anti-missile system with defence scientists saying it had the capability to intercept incoming ballistic missiles thousands of miles away.

Labelled only as AXO (Atmospheric Intercept System), the supersonic missile underwent its baptism when it successfully intercepted a surface-to-surface Prithvi target missile at an altitude of 40 to 50 km over the seas off the interim test range site in Chandipur in Orissa.

"It is a new missile and not part of country's Integrated Guided Missile programme," top DRDO officials said on the condition of anonymity.

"We have been working on this anti-missile system for years," scientists said and claimed that missile had its own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception, independent tracking and homing capability and its own radar.

"The missile has response time of 30 seconds and once it detects a target it can be launched in 50 seconds," the scientists said.

While, affirming that India would still be observing the US Patriot-III anti missile shield, which Washington is developing, the scientists said that the Indian missiles was "in the class of its own".

DRDO did not reveal the contours of the new system developed, hinting that more interception trials could be on the cards.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200611271965.htm

 

[Iceman2]

In July, India reported a successful launch of the longer-range Agni 2 nuclear missile for a full day before acknowledging the test failed, with the missile plunging into the sea short of its target.
lolzzz how funny is'nt it?

 

[Goodperson]

In July, India reported a successful launch of the longer-range Agni 2 nuclear missile for a full day before acknowledging the test failed, with the missile plunging into the sea short of its target.
lolzzz how funny is'nt it?

Yes one missile hitting another missile, Its like one bullet hitting another bullet.
I believe you its funny.

 

[MIG_ACE]

Which test is that article talking abt?? There was no Agni-2 test in July.Agni-2 is already operational.It was the 3500km range Agni-3.And they accepted it as a failure right away.It was all over Indian news channels on the same day. Now if these american reporters take one day to find out its not our problem.

 

[joey]

Lemme clear this entire Crap up,
This missile is highly similar to Arrow 2.

India develops new anti-missile system


A K DHAR, NEW DELHI, NOV 27 (PTI)
India today unvieled an indigenous supersonic anti-missile system with defence scientists saying it had the capability to intercept incoming ballastic missiles thousands of miles away.

Labelled only as AXO (Atmospheric Intercept System), the supersonic missile underwent its baptism when it successfully intercepted a surface-to-surface Prithvi target missile at an altitude of 40 to 50 km over the seas off the interim test range site in Chandipur in Orissa.

"It is a new missile and not part of country's Integrated Guided Missile programme," top DRDO officials said on the condition of anonymity.

"We have been working on this anti-missile system for years," scientists said and claimed that missile had its own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception, independent tracking and homing capability and its own radar.

"The missile has response time of 30 seconds and once it detects a target it can be launched in 50 seconds," the scientists said.

While, affirming that India would still be observing the US Patriot-III anti missile shield, which Washington is developing, the scientists said that the Indian missiles was "in the class of its own".

DRDO did not reveal the contours of the new system developed.

"It is completely an indigenous missile," DRDO officials said when asked if any foreign help had been sought in it's development.

"The missile has high manoeuvrability, terminal homing with radar seekers and can operate independent of ground radar help," they said adding the missile could be co-related to ground and air based radars.

The missiles which are 10 to 12 metres long have divert thrusters that can generate high lateral acceleration and can undertake critical mission of air defence too, officials said.

DRDO has been working on making the Trishul missiles into an anti-missile system, but the system had failed many critical tests.

DRDO officials did not say whether some of the systems of the Trishul missile had been incorporated into the new yet experimental interceptor missile, but added "the new system has no commonality with the Akash surface-to-air missiles".

I'm absolutely happy India developed such complex sensors radar seeker ones.

You need Boost phase IR detection.
A guy from BR saw the video and posted the results, check it.
Trajectory of BM's differ as altitute, climb rate, burn rate, wind velocity are never exactly the same.

Ravula, I dont think this has integration with Green Pine System.

Please Check this http://www.tno.nl/defensie_en_veili..._analysis/india_the_interactive_air/index.xml

Indians Divided on Air Defense
Weigh Domestic, U.S. Solutions

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI, NEW DELHI
More capable air defense has been a top government priority here for several years. To meet the Army’s future requirements, the DRDO diverted some funds from its missile program in January 2003 to begin developing its own air defense system capable of tracking ballistic missiles.

The Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad, a premier defense laboratory that produces the Agni and Prithvi missile systems and is under the administrative control of DRDO, has been developing a system since early 2003 that would have a range of 100 kilometers.

A DRDO scientist said the previous National Democratic Alliance government was so impressed with the RCI proposal that $444.4 million was allotted in June 2003 to complete the indigenous air defense system by 2008.

He said the unnamed system will begin flight trials in mid-2006. RCI will carry out about 10 flights before deploying it with the Indian defense forces.

The DRDO scientist said the indigenous air defense system will have a mission control system that will conduct target acquisition, classification and track estimation, among other functions.

He said another major element is the active phased-array radar system purchased from Israel. Called Sword Fish, the system was purchased in early 2004 for $50 million and is undergoing trials at Hasan in Karnataka state.

Once the air defense system is operational, the DRDO scientist said, RCI will integrate it with other defense systems via satellite links and a secure digital data link that will enable it to track and transmit data up to a range of 1,000 kilometers.

In a major breakthrough, the country's defence scientists today successfully carried out a surface to surface missile (SSM) interception over the Bay of Bengal brightening the prospects of development of an indigenous anti-missile shield.

A target Prithvi missile was launched from Interim Missile Test Range near here at Chandipur, at 1015 hours, its trajectory continously monitored and then it was successfully intercepted by another missile fired from the Wheeler Islands.

Though, the Navy has successfully conducted missile interceptions over sea using Israeli Barak missiles, this was for the first time defence scientists have successfully carried out interception of a surface to surface missile missile (SSM), which could bring some relief as India actively faces a threat from the presence of nuclear capabile missile in the neighbourhood.

The interceptor missile, which was in anti-missile mode, was not indentified by the DRDO officials who said "the interceptor missile had inertial guidance mid-course and active-seeker guidance in its terminal phase".

Lets just wait and see for more tests.

There are still a lot of tests to go. What will be more significant is if the missile can engage, BM's that zig zag. Should I take a video of the clip on NDTV and upload?

FYI .. our footage shows the liftoff but not the actual interception. It also shows contrails in the air following the impact.

Vishnu Som
Associate Editor
NDTV

Shyamd, there is a lot of technical info in the press reports that indicate an advanced 'kill' vehicle was developed and tested. The video might hep if played frame by frame.

This might be the launcher http://www.drdo.org/pub/techfocus/aug04/missile15.htm

First test of Sagarika cruise missile next year

New Delhi, Nov 13. (PTI): Sagarika, India's first submarine-launched nuclear-capable cruise missile, will be ready for flight trials by early next year, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said.

The turbo-jet powered, vertically launched cruise missile with a range of 700 nautical miles and capable of delivering a 500-kg warhead, is being developed by DRDO with Israeli assistance. India is simultaneously seeking to rope in European missile firms for the project that is being kept under wraps.

The sources said the missile's first prototype, incorporating a solid fuel booster, should be ready for a test flight by early 2008.

At the same time, the DRDO is continuing the development of the submarine-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile developed jointly with Russia.

The development of these two missiles, which will turn India into only the world's fifth power with such a capability, appears to be the silver lining in the country's missile programme that has been plagued by long delays and huge cost overruns

Solid Booster is used in this for sure!
Have a look at the booster
http://www.drdo.com/pub/techfocus/oct2001/propulsion.htm

As I suspected this DRDO motor was for this ABM interceptor. The thing is 6 meter long, ~0.7m diameter and made of maraging steel for very high burn rate (thus acceleration). Just a single stage ABM version with 100Kg payload will reach Mach12 at 40Km altitude when fired at 60 degree elevation.

DRDO has developed a state-of-the-art case-bonded HTPB-based composite propellantLarge Size Solid Booster with low burn rate of 4.3 mm/s at 50 KSC. This solid propellant rocket motor (dia 740/620 mm, length 6 m), made of 250 grade maraging steel, consists of a composite nozzle with metallic backup and lined with carbon phenolic liners. The motor is capable of generating 16 ton thrust for 38 s duration. Pyrogen igniter developed by DRDO has been successfully used for the first time for this motor.

The payload is higher though..

The guy who saw it in DD1.

While the target misile was shown all the way from launch to destruction the location of the interceptor missile could only be guessed from the post intercept contrails.It is obvious the actual intercept was edited out .That brings two questions ot the fore .If it is a new missile showing it carrying out the actual intercept would have many times more impressive .The reason why it was edited out of the press release video was obviously because it would have compromised the identity of the intercept missile.

Now if you look at the contrails of two impacting missiles the flight or rather the intercept profile of the defending missile is quite clear very very similar to arrow 2 intercept profile the angle of intercept particularly but instead of reentry cruise phase intercept this was surely terminal boost phase intercept just as the target missile started tipping over for the cruise when it has largets radar cross section and max altitude and minimum ground speed at that altitude .
Now speculating on the type of kill vehicle the target missile spiralled into three distinct smoke balls all along its estimated vertical position so it was most likely not a high explossive warhead exploding on direct impact but triggered by a superfast proximity fuse most likely laser type which explossively release a directional explossive charge ,kinetic energy particles on the projected path of the target prthvi missile at an altitude of 50 km when it starts tipping over to initiate cruise again a classic arrow 2 type intercept

Arrow 2 has dia of 0.8m as well as this missiles Dia of 0.8m as the solid booster rockets dia is 0.7m.

Hopefulyl clears a lot of things!!

 

[Awesome]

The Arrow's failed a test to hit a missile similar to the North Korean Nodong's, tested since the Shahab class is similar as well. Meaning they'd fail against a Ghauri too.

It brings some relief, but I doubt its worth anything. This isn't worth a race. Borders are just so close that an SSM can't be protected by firing a missile onto another missile.

The Shaheen's can launch within minutes and can reach their destination in as little as 4-6 mins. America too can barely do it, with such an isolated location.

 

[joey]

Dude....It doesnt works that way.

Have you checked this http://www.tno.nl/defensie_en_veili..._analysis/india_the_interactive_air/index.xml ? check it to find how India uses Range technology to deply such things.

First of all dedicated satellites will be there to pick up Boost phase IR detection.
Green pine/sqord fish/indigenous radar will get data from satellite datalinks.
They will immediately scan the coordinates if it is within range and calculate the trajectory and launch the missile.

Arrow 2 and this might have some diff, i'm not sure what seeker is used here just wait till more tests happen which i'm sure will happen.

This thing can eliminate any threat with help of powerful radars , from border to 1000 kms indeep, not any more.
Also it can be used in reentry stage with use of "radar seeker" and can intercept things, but thats dangerous.

What Pakistan needs is MIRV but then again if you launch from 1000 kms from border it might get in trouble, else NOT

How much is pakistans total area? i mean breadth?

How about deploying this in afganistan as well? j/k dont get mad.

 

[joey]

For now just wait and watch what happens.
Guys please lets not jump on booties, wait for more tests and if it intercepts a AGNI.

Whatever it might be Asim have you noticed it can be a very credible long range SAM as well?
thanks.
Intra atmospheric ABM is nothing but a terminal radar seeker or IR boost seeker in a high class SAM.

 

[joey]

The long the radar can scan, the help it might provide to this missile.
3 radars coupled can hit around 1000 not anymore...
thanks.

 

[Neo]

Sigh,Relieved. Finally they came ot with something that works...

Good news for India!
Any technical data been released yet?

 

[Neo]

The Arrow's failed a test to hit a missile similar to the North Korean Nodong's, tested since the Shahab class is similar as well. Meaning they'd fail against a Ghauri too.

It brings some relief, but I doubt its worth anything. This isn't worth a race. Borders are just so close that an SSM can't be protected by firing a missile onto another missile.

The Shaheen's can launch within minutes and can reach their destination in as little as 4-6 mins. America too can barely do it, with such an isolated location.

I agree with Asim.
Btw, even the advaced Patriot System has a kill rate of 70% meaning 30% missiles would land 'safely'.
Lets just wait for further testing to see how effective this ABM is.

 

[joey]

Lets just wait for further testing to see how effective this ABM is

yups bro lets just wait.

and hey some news coming

Prithvi interceptor missile tested successfully

T.S. Subramanian




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

India has acquired air defence capability: M. Natarajan
Target was a modified standard Prithvi-II missile
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CHENNAI: India acquired on Monday the capability of air defence against ballistic missiles when it launched two missiles, with one intercepting the other, from two ranges off the Orissa coast.

While the target missile took off from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea, near Balasore, the interceptor took off a few seconds later from the Wheeler Island, about 70 km away. It intercepted the target mid-flight and destroyed it over the Bay of Bengal.

"A milestone"


M. Natarajan, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, told The Hindu over the phone from New Delhi: "With this, India has acquired the capability of air defence against the incoming ballistic missile threat. It is a significant milestone in the missile defence of the country."

He described the success of the mission as a "glow made when a thousand lamps are merged into one. That is what I feel."

"There was a lot of not only hardware but also software custom-built for this mission. They have been validated, and that is our greatest satisfaction. The credit should go to the whole team," Mr. Natarajan said.

The project director was Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Chief Controller, Missile and Strategic Systems, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Trajectory monitored


The target missile was launched around 10.15 a.m. Its trajectory was continuously monitored, and the information stored in the Mission Control Centre. This information was transmitted to the Launch Control Centre for launching the interceptor, which took off some seconds later.

The target was a standard Prithvi-II missile, modified to simulate the trajectory of an enemy missile. A portion of the interceptor was similar to the Prithvi missile but its second stage was a totally new segment.

The interceptor had inertial navigation guidance system, used mid-course in the flight, and an active seeker-guidance system in its terminal phase to waylay the incoming missile.

Many technologies relevant to the interceptor were validated in the mission. A radar was used and the interceptor had a seeker guidance on board.

DRDO sources said the interception could take place at varying heights. "In this instance, the interception took place 50 km above the ground. It can be at any height, depending on the time of the launch because our aim is to destabilise the incoming missile."

Clearly says the things i said, i.e. new solid stage motor being used.
note : software success is a very important thing, such missile intercepting with high accuracy can be easily planted in sagarika!! with 1500 kms range the SLCM.

Also note one thing whatever it is its a bloody good SAM, 50 kms above ground approaching a BM and hitting with over speed of a BM is definitely amazing.