Hello, Warriors!
The DRDO tested an indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile- the Advanced Air Defense (AAD) missile on 22nd November 2015 as part of its efforts to develop a full-fledged multi-layer Ballistic Missile Defence system.
The AAD is part of the first phase of India’s Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) initiative, along with the Prithvi Air Defense (PAD) missile. The Prithvi provides exoatmospheric defense while the AAD is optimized for endo-atmospheric performance.
The indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile was fired from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast and is capable of destroying any incoming ballistic missile, from a test range off Odisha coast.
Here are the 6 things you need to know about this advancement:
- The interceptor AAD missile has been indigenously developed by the DRDO under Ballistic Missile Defence Programme.
- The AAD missile is capable of destroying any incoming ballistic missile at lower (endo-atmospheric) altitude, giving full-fledged multi-layer Ballistic Missile Defence system to country.
- It is a 7.5-meter tall and single stage solid rocket propelled guided missile, capable of Mach 4.5 supersonic flight.
- It is equipped with a navigation system along with a hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activator.
- It also has its own mobile launcher, sophisticated radars and independent tracking system to secure data link for interception and homing capabilities.
- The AAD has an operational range between 150-200 kilometers and uses an inertial navigational aid system with active radar homing. So far, it has been test-launched from a transporter erector launcher (TEL).
- The interceptor missile had its own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception, independent tracking and homing capabilities and sophisticated radars
The anti-ballistic missile, took off at 9.40 a.m. from the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Wheeler Island soon after it received the command to waylay and destroy an incoming target missile in the endo-atmosphere (below 40 km altitude) after the conditions for the latter were electronically simulated without the actual launch of the missile.
A full-scale BMD system in India will incorporate technology from both the PAD and AAD systems. India plans to deploy a two-tiered Ballistic Missile Defence system to protect important cities and vital installations from enemy attack. The first phase seeks to destroy incoming enemy missiles of 2,000 km range, while the second phase envisages killing incoming missiles of more than 2,000 km.
