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.