Shield to destroy enemy ballistic missiles; India joins elite club

NEW DELHI: India has acquired the capability to destroy intercontinental enemy ballistic missiles at any time of altercation. For this, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the hypersonic speed AD-1 and AD-2 missiles. The anti-ship missile Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Medium Range (NASM–MR) was also successfully tested.

India acquired a state-of-the-art ballistic missile defence shield. It can detect, track and destroy long-range ballistic missiles. India has become one of the few countries with a multi-layered ballistic missile defence (BMD) capability to deal with intercontinental ballistic missiles. The other countries in this club include the United States, Russia, China and Israel.

The test was conducted on the 10th and 11th at the test range off the Odisha coast. The missiles accurately hit their targets. Senior officials from DRDO and the Army witnessed the test. DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh supervised the test.

1. AD-1 Missile

Destructive range of 1,500 to 3,000 km. The range can be extended to 5,000 km

2. AD-2 Missile

Can destroy intercontinental ballistic missiles and intermediate-range missiles at a distance of 5,000 km

3. NASM-MR

Medium-range anti-ship missile. Can intercept radar. Can destroy warships at a distance of 350 km

India will soon test-fire the 12,000-km-range Agni-6 intercontinental ballistic missile. Initial steps have begun at the Chandipur Test Range in Odisha. It is reported that more than 10,000 villagers within a 3.5-km radius of Launch Complex 3 have been relocated to camps. Agni 6 will operate in four phases. More than ten nuclear warheads will be launched simultaneously at different targets. DRDO acquired the MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology for this.