Ballistic missile interceptor test fired successfully

In a shot to shield the country against ballistic missile attack, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired the third consecutive Ballistic Missile Interceptor from Integrated Test Range (ITR) from the Wheeler Island, Orissa on Friday.

In a series of test to verify accuracy, DRDO has intercepted the trajectory Dhanush missile in the air on the altitude of 120 km fired from a ship about 100 km away from Coast at 04.24 pm on Friday while the interceptor missile was launched using mobile launcher located on Wheeler Island Launch Complex.

Earlier, the intercepted missile was tested on Nov 27, 2006 in Exo-atmospheric region at 48 Km altitudes, and the second one on Dec 06, 2007 in endo-atmospheric region at 15 km using AAD missile.

After the successful test, the DRDO team said, “The test marks the completion of the first phase of the programme and it will secure operational clearance by 2012-13.” It needs one more test before certifying the system as ready for deployment, added DRDO in the statement.

This missile has been renamed as ‘Pradyumna’ from its earlier name Prithvi Air Defence system.

Mr. M Natarajan, Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri and Secretary (Defence R&D), Dr VK Saraswat, CC R&D and Programme Director ‘AD’, Senior Scientists from DRDO, Senior Officers from Armed Forces and other Senior Government Officials were present on the testing sight of the ‘Pradyumna’,

Defence Minister A K Antony has congratulated the Programme Director ‘AD’ and all indulged scientists of DRDO for achieving this milestone of making India as a Ballistic Missile Defence capable country.