NEW DELHI: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Monday said the plans to develop the country’s ballistic missile programme remained on course and expressed confidence of completing the first phase by 2010.Having successfully flight-tested the third ballistic missile interceptor last Friday at the integrated test range.
Chief Controller (Missiles Strategic Systems) and Programme Director (Air Defence), V.K. Saraswat said two more tests would have to be conducted before the programme would be completed latest by 2011. “The third consecutive interception of ballistic missile demonstrated the robustness of the Indian BMD system. The DRDO have already conducted two interception trials, first in exo-atmospheric region at 48 km altitude on November 27, 2006 and the second in endo-atmospheric region at 15 km using AAD missile on December 6, 2007,” he said.
Dr. Saraswat, who briefed journalists here, said the integrated endo-atmospheric and exo-atmospheric tests were expected to be conducted by the end of this year.
The first phase envisages ability to intercept incoming missiles with a range of 2000-km. It is designed to engage multiple targets by firing a salvo of missiles. The second phase would be to engage the intercontinental ballistic missiles, which have a range of over 3,500 km.
Responding to questions, he said the interceptor used in the Friday test was guided by Inertial Navigation System in mid course and radio frequency homing seeker in the end game, which means destroying the incoming missile.While he refrained from answering as to how the DRDO views the move by the defence authorities seeing presentations from foreign companies on missile air defence, Dr. Saraswat said the DRDO had been tasked to work towards developing ballistic missiles in the country.
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