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2007-12-06 India-Pakistan

Indian ABM interceptor missile test successfully conducted

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Posted by john frum 2007-12-06 05:56|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11132 views ] Top

Posted by john frum 2007-12-06 06:00|| 2007-12-06 06:00|| Front Page Top

#2 The target missile, a modified indigenously-built 'Prithvi' was first test-fired from a mobile launcher at 11:00 hrs from ITR's launch complex-3 at Chandipur-on-sea, while 2 minutes 40 seconds later, the interceptor was fired from Wheeler's Island, 70 nautical miles from here, to intercept it at an altitude of 15 km in mid-air.

An Exo-atmospheric interceptor missile PAD-01 had been successfully tested on November 27, 2006 to destroy an incoming Prithvi missile at an altitude of 50 km while a solo and mock trial of the present variant was conducted on December two, 2007 with a simulated electronic target from the wheelers island

Posted by john frum 2007-12-06 06:01|| 2007-12-06 06:01|| Front Page Top

#3 Very impressive. So the radar is Israeli. I have to assume the kill vehicle and its homing sensor is Israeli too. Otherwise, it would be very surprising that the Indians had achieved this much progress this quickly.

(I also assume, BTW, that Israeli anti-missile systems use a lot of US technology, since the US spent decades on this stuff before the Israelis started on their Arrow project.)

Posted by moody blues 2007-12-06 08:39|| 2007-12-06 08:39|| Front Page Top

#4 I have to assume the kill vehicle and its homing sensor is Israeli too. Otherwise, it would be very surprising that the Indians had achieved this much progress this quickly.

They might be. On the other hand, never bet against Hindu science geeks. Those kids are good.

Posted by Mike 2007-12-06 09:56|| 2007-12-06 09:56|| Front Page Top

#5 The hit to kill vehicle, sensors, reaction divert thrusters etc are all Indian.

Their ABM program gets as much funding as the rest of the other missile programs combined.

Motivation is the factor. When your neighbor (and enemy) is Pakistan, you'll move heaven and earth to protect yourself (if technically possible).

Posted by John Frum 2007-12-06 12:52|| 2007-12-06 12:52|| Front Page Top

#6 Photos of the interceptor launch

one
two

Posted by John Frum 2007-12-06 12:59|| 2007-12-06 12:59|| Front Page Top

The trajectories of the target missile and the interceptor missile and the interception point on display on the consoles of the Mission Control Centre at Wheeler Island, off the Orissa coast, on Thursday. (Right): The interceptor missile roaring off from Wheeler Island.

Posted by john frum 2007-12-06 14:38|| 2007-12-06 14:38|| Front Page Top

#8 Wheeler Island (Orissa): India on Thursday demonstrated its capability to defend itself against ballistic missile attacks by successfully testing a hypersonic interceptor missile. The missile destroyed an incoming target missile in a direct hit over the Bay of Bengal.

The interception took place at an altitude of 15 km, in what is called the endo-atmosphere. The debris fell into the sea. The launch has propelled the nation into the elite club, comprising the United States, Russia and Israel.

The target missile, a modified, single-stage Prithvi missile called TGT-04, lifted off from Chandipur-on-Sea, Orissa, at 11a.m. Five minutes later, the interceptor missile, named AAD-02 (Advanced Air Defence), roared off from a mobile launcher at Wheeler Island, about 70 km across the sea from Chandipur.

As the target missile climbed to an altitude of 110 km and had a free fall at a speed of 2.5 to 3 Mach, the AAD-02, speeding at 4.5 Mach, performed intricate manoeuvres and homed in on the target in a head-on collision. The interception took place 25 seconds after the AAD-02 took off.

Radars at Konark and Paradip in Orissa picked up the target missile in its ascent mode and communicated its velocity and position to the MCC.

The MCC classified it as a ballistic missile and assigned the task of waylaying it to the AAD-02. The interceptor lifted off, homed in on the target, using a radio frequency seeker on board, and achieved a direct hit.

Posted by john frum 2007-12-06 14:39|| 2007-12-06 14:39|| Front Page Top

#9 Wheeler Island: Elated by the success of the interceptor missile test on Thursday from Wheeler Island, off Orissa, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning to take on harder challenges of engaging Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) as part of its Area Defence programme.

In an interview to The Hindu after the interceptor missile, called the Advanced Air Defence (AAD-02), scored a direct hit and destroyed a target missile over the Bay of Bengal, V.K. Saraswat, Chief Controller, DRDO R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems), said future missiles would be equipped with technologies to achieve near zero missed distance (four to six metres).
Future plans

In April next, the DRDO would launch two interceptor missiles to intercept a single incoming target missile in both exo-atmosphere (above 40 km altitude) and endo-atmosphere (below 30 km altitude). However, there would be no endo-atmospheric interception if the exo-atmospheric test achieved a kill.

The AAD-02 was specifically designed and developed by the DRDO for endo-atmospheric interception of an incoming missile at an altitude of around 15 km. It is a single-stage missile powered by solid propellants. It is 7.5 metres tall and weighs around 1.2 tonnes. It had a diameter of less than 0.5 metres.

M. Natarajan, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, who watched the two lift-offs and the interception live on a video-screen at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi, likened the interception to almost hitting a bullet with a bullet.

On Thursday, the Army launched the target missile from Chandipur-on-Sea, Orissa, in an independent manner. The Mission Director for the target missile was Lt. Gen. (retired) V.J. Sundaram.

There were scenes of jubilation at the Mission Control Centre on Thursday soon after AAD-02 achieved a direct hit of the target missile at an altitude of 15 km in the endo-atmosphere.

Posted by john frum 2007-12-06 14:56|| 2007-12-06 14:56|| Front Page Top

#10 According to Dr. Saraswat, the AAD-02 was capable of intercepting M-9 and M-11 class of missiles which are with our adversaries.

Posted by john frum 2007-12-06 14:58|| 2007-12-06 14:58|| Front Page Top

#11 Just one more thing for Perv to have on his mind. "They have just rendered our mighty nuclear force impotent. Impotent I tell you!"

Posted by remoteman 2007-12-06 15:05|| 2007-12-06 15:05|| Front Page Top

#12 that explains Perv's new threads. "If you gonna be impotent, you should dress impotent"

/old joke

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-12-06 21:56|| 2007-12-06 21:56|| Front Page Top

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