India tests modified version of Prithvi missile: Interceptor missile successful

By Syed Akbar

DRDO air defence missile AAD-05 has successfully hit ballistic missile and destroys the ballistic missile at a height of 15 km off the coast of Orissa near the wheelers island.

A modified Prithvi missile mimicking the ballistic missile was launched at 1010 hrs on Friday from ITR Chandipur. Radars located at deferent locations have tracked incoming ballistic missile. Interceptor missile was completely ready to take off at Wheelers Island.

Guidance computers have continuously computed the trajectory of ballistic missile and launched AAD-05 interceptor missile at a precisely calculated time. AAD-05 interceptor missile initially guided by the inertial navigation system with the target trajectory continuously updated by the radar, the on board guidance computer guided the AAD-05 interceptor missile towards the target missile.

The onboard radio frequency seeker identified the target missile and guided the AAD-05 interceptor missile close to the target missile and hit the target missile directly and destroyed it.  warhead also exploded and destroyed the target missile into pieces.

Radar and EOTS systems have tracked the missile and also recorded the fragments of target missile falling into the Bay of Bengal. It is one of the finest missions where the interceptor has hit the incoming ballistic missile directly and destroyed at a 15 km altitude. India has joined a very few advanced countries, who have these ballistic missile defence capabilities.

India is the fifth nation to have these capabilities in the world. The mission was carried out in the final deliverable user configuration mode.

Scientific advisor to Defence Minister Dr VK Saraswat reviewed the total configuration and mission and also witnessed the launch.  Avinash Chander, chief controller, R &D (MSS), and P Venugopalan, director DRDL, carried out the flight readiness review of both the target missile and interceptor missile.

DS Reddy, programme director air defence system, alongwith his team carried out all the preparations for the launch successfully. SP Dash director ITR, Dr SK Chaudhuri. Director, RCI, and Satish Kumar, director, SPIC,  and other top DRDO scientists were present during the mission. The mission was also witnessed by the senior officials of tri-services.