Prithvi interceptor missile tested successfully
T.S. Subramanian
CHENNAI: India acquired on Monday the capability of air defence against ballistic missiles when it launched two missiles, with one intercepting the other, from two ranges off the Orissa coast.
While the target missile took off from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea, near Balasore, the interceptor took off a few seconds later from the Wheeler Island, about 70 km away. It intercepted the target mid-flight and destroyed it over the Bay of Bengal.
"A milestone"
M. Natarajan, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, told The Hindu over the phone from New Delhi: "With this, India has acquired the capability of air defence against the incoming ballistic missile threat. It is a significant milestone in the missile defence of the country."
He described the success of the mission as a "glow made when a thousand lamps are merged into one. That is what I feel."
"There was a lot of not only hardware but also software custom-built for this mission. They have been validated, and that is our greatest satisfaction. The credit should go to the whole team," Mr. Natarajan said.
The project director was Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Chief Controller, Missile and Strategic Systems, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Trajectory monitored
The target missile was launched around 10.15 a.m. Its trajectory was continuously monitored, and the information stored in the Mission Control Centre. This information was transmitted to the Launch Control Centre for launching the interceptor, which took off some seconds later.
The target was a standard Prithvi-II missile, modified to simulate the trajectory of an enemy missile. A portion of the interceptor was similar to the Prithvi missile but its second stage was a totally new segment.
The interceptor had inertial navigation guidance system, used mid-course in the flight, and an active seeker-guidance system in its terminal phase to waylay the incoming missile. Many technologies relevant to the interceptor were validated in the mission. A radar was used and the interceptor had a seeker guidance on board.
CHENNAI: India acquired on Monday the capability of air defence against ballistic missiles when it launched two missiles, with one intercepting the other, from two ranges off the Orissa coast.
While the target missile took off from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea, near Balasore, the interceptor took off a few seconds later from the Wheeler Island, about 70 km away. It intercepted the target mid-flight and destroyed it over the Bay of Bengal.
"A milestone"
M. Natarajan, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, told The Hindu over the phone from New Delhi: "With this, India has acquired the capability of air defence against the incoming ballistic missile threat. It is a significant milestone in the missile defence of the country."
He described the success of the mission as a "glow made when a thousand lamps are merged into one. That is what I feel."
"There was a lot of not only hardware but also software custom-built for this mission. They have been validated, and that is our greatest satisfaction. The credit should go to the whole team," Mr. Natarajan said.
The project director was Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Chief Controller, Missile and Strategic Systems, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Trajectory monitored
The target missile was launched around 10.15 a.m. Its trajectory was continuously monitored, and the information stored in the Mission Control Centre. This information was transmitted to the Launch Control Centre for launching the interceptor, which took off some seconds later.
The target was a standard Prithvi-II missile, modified to simulate the trajectory of an enemy missile. A portion of the interceptor was similar to the Prithvi missile but its second stage was a totally new segment.
The interceptor had inertial navigation guidance system, used mid-course in the flight, and an active seeker-guidance system in its terminal phase to waylay the incoming missile. Many technologies relevant to the interceptor were validated in the mission. A radar was used and the interceptor had a seeker guidance on board.
Source: Hindu
posted by anandsonline @ Tuesday, November 28, 2006
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