BMD System seek to defend against an attack by launching interceptors that would hit and destroy incoming missiles on impact.
- DRDO’s successful flight-tests of Phase-II AD Endo-atmospheric missile demonstrated the indigenous capability to defend against ballistic missiles of 5,000 km class.
- The Target Missile was detected by weapon system radars deployed on land and sea and activated the Air Defence (AD) interceptor system
- The flight test fully met all the trial objectives validating complete network-centric warfare weapon system consisting of
- Long-range sensors,
- Low latency communication system and Mission Control Centre, and
- Advance interceptor missiles
India’s BMD programme:
- Aim: To deploy a layered missile shield to protect the country from ballistic missile attacks.
- Consists of Two phases
- Phase 1 of the BMD, which can intercept ballistic missiles with a range of 2,000 km, has already been deployed and consists of:
- Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile for exo-atmospheric ranges (50-80 km)
- Advanced Area Defence (AAD) missile for endo-atmospheric ranges (15-30 km).
- Phase II: Consists of two missiles, AD-1 and AD-2
- In November 2022, DRDO successfully tested a long-range interceptor missile (AD-1)
- Phase 1 of the BMD, which can intercept ballistic missiles with a range of 2,000 km, has already been deployed and consists of: