The interceptor, developed under the Ballistic Missile Defence System, destroyed the target, a variant of Prithvi-II, mimicking an enemy missile, fired 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, at an altitude of 16 km over the Bay of Bengal. The interceptor was fired five minutes after the target was fired around 9:32 am, director, ITR, S P Dash said.
Defence sources said within three minutes of the target's launch, the missile tracking network, comprising long range and multi-function radars and other range sensors positioned at different locations, detected and identified the incoming missile threat, paving the way for the interceptor, Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile, to zoom through the sky at a speed of 4.5 Mach and blast it
To ascertain the interceptors kill effect detailed results and data from multiple tracking sources were being analysed, sources in Defence Research and Development Organisation said. The success of this test is a major achievement leading towards deployment, sources added.
Sources said the interceptor, designed for endo-atmospheric condition (up to 30 km altitude), is seven-metre 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, sources added.