The Hindu : Front Page : Interceptor destroys simulated missile

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Monday, Dec 03, 2007
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Interceptor destroys simulated missile

Y. Mallikarjun

A “great endo-atmospheric intercept,” says DRDO official

HYDERABAD: In a prelude to the interception of a live “target missile” slated for next week, an interceptor missile, AAD01, on Sunday morning shot down a simulated electronic ballistic missile at an altitude of 15 km over the Bay of Bengal.

It was a “great endo-atmospheric intercept” against an electronic target, Chief Controller, Defence Research and Development Organisation R & D (missiles and strategic systems), V.K. Saraswat told The Hindu over telephone from Wheeler Island (off the Orissa coast), the place from where the interceptor was launched at 10.42 a.m. The test demonstrated the manoeuvring capability of the missile at a high-speed “under endo-atmospheric conditions,” he added.

The DRDO had designed and developed the AAD (Advanced Air Defence) missile specifically for conducting the test in endo-atmospheric conditions as part of developing a two-layered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system to protect the vulnerable areas in the country from an incoming enemy missile. The interception test of a “target missile” in exo-atmosphere was successfully carried out a year ago at an altitude of above 50 km.

Dr. Saraswat said the test also demonstrated the capability of the missile in the surface-to-surface mode. The Long Range Tracking Radar Stations (LRTRS), the multi-functional fire control radar, the mission control centre, the mobile communication terminal and the interceptor from a mobile launcher performed in close harmony.

The AAD is a single-stage solid rocket propelled missile equipped with an inertial navigation system, a high-speed computer and an electro-mechanical activator and had performed the manoeuvres based on the data uplinked from the radars to the interceptor. After intercepting the electronics ballistic missile, it travelled to a height of 30 km and covered a range of 130 km before falling into the sea.

Dr. Saraswat said all the range stations of the Integrated Test Range at Balasore and Chandipur tracked the trajectory of the missile, and provided accurate and precise data about the interception.

The test was witnessed by the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister, M. Natarajan, and senior officials from the DRDO Bhavan, Delhi through a video link.

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