DRDO conducts maiden flight-test of phase-II ballistic missile defense interceptor

Published: 3rd Nov, 2022

Context

India has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) interceptor AD-1 missile.

About

About AD (Air Defense)-1:

The AD-1 is a long-range interceptor missile.
AD-1 is a unique type of interceptor with advanced technologies available with only a very few nations in the world.
It is designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception of long-range ballistic missiles as well as aircraft.
It is propelled by a two-stage solid motor and equipped with an indigenously-developed advanced control system, navigation, and guidance algorithm to precisely guide the vehicle to the target.

Apprehensions:

BMD is ineffective against Cruise missiles. Both China and Pakistan have cruise missile capable of delivering the nuclear payload.
No BMD can have a 100% success rate in the interception of the projectile (ballistic missile).
BMD is a very costly affair.
Even after interception there remain chances of damage, especially if the interception is done in the terminal phase of the ballistic missile.

What’s Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) System?

A Ballistic Missile Defence system (BMD) is a missile defense system that acts as a shield against ballistic missile attacks.
You may not that the purpose is defense (by intercepting a ballistic missile) and not attack/offense.
A ballistic missile can be intercepted in three phases:
Terminal phase: During the atmospheric descent phase.
Mid-course interception (in-flight interception): Most preferred interception.
Lift-off phase: Targeting at the launch point- requires advanced radars.

Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme:

The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Program is an initiative to develop and deploy a multi-layered ballistic missile defense system to protect India from ballistic missile attacks.
It was launched in 2000 after Kargil War by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
India has an active ABM development effort using indigenously developed and integrated radars, and indigenous missiles.
In November 2006, India successfully conducted the PADE (Prithvi Air Defence Exercise) in which an anti-ballistic missile, called the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD), an exo-atmospheric (outside the atmosphere) interceptor system, intercepted a Prithvi-II ballistic missile.

Two- tiers of India’s BMD

Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)	Advanced Air Defense (AAD)
Also referred as Pradyumna Ballistic Missile Interceptor. It’s designed for High altitude interception (exo-atmospheric interception). Intercept missiles at altitudes between 50 – 80 km. The interceptor is Prithvi Defense Vehicle (PDV) which has two-stage, both with solid propellants.	It is also called Ashwin Ballistic Missile Interceptor. It’s an endo-atmospheric interception system (for low-altitude interception). Altitude of interception is range up to 30 km. It has a single-stage solid-fueled missile.

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