India’s Supersonic interceptor missile AAD

India test-fired its indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The interceptor, known as Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is capable of destroying any incoming ballistic missile.

AAD is a part of Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme. It is an anti-ballistic missile designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in the endo-atmosphere (within the atmosphere) at an altitude of 30 km (19 miles).

Defence Research and Development Organisation carried out the first test in the endo-atmospheric region at 15 kms using Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile on December 6, 2007. A modified Prithvi missile was the enemy target, lifting off from the integrated test range at Chandipur-on-sea for the advanced air defence missile test on December 06, 2007.It is equipped with an inertial navigation system, midcourse updates from ground based radar and active radar homing in the terminal phase, hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activator. The interceptor missile had its own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception, independent tracking and homing capabilities and sophisticated radars.

About Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme: The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme is an initiative to develop and deploy a multi-layered ballistic missile defence system to protect from ballistic missile attacks. it is a double-tiered system consisting of two interceptor missiles, namely the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile for high altitude interception, and the Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Missile for lower altitude interception. The two-tiered shield should be able to intercept any incoming missile launched 5,000 kilometers away.

PAD was tested in November 2006, followed by AAD in December 2007. With the test of the PAD missile, India became the fourth country to have successfully developed an Anti-ballistic missile system, after United States, Russia, Israel. On 6 March 2009, India again successfully tested its missile defence shield, during which an incoming "enemy" missile was intercepted at an altitude of 75 km.

By: Vishal