DRDO has carried out the maiden flight test of Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence, BMD, interceptor AD-1 missile with enhanced ranges, off the Odisha coast. The major milestone was achieved on November 2, 2022, marking a significant leap in the air defense capability of the country.
It is designed to conduct both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interceptions of long-range ballistic missiles and aircraft. Propelled by a two-stage solid motor, the missile uses an advanced control system, navigation, and guidance algorithm to precisely target its targets. The DRDO said the missile could intercept targets in a range of 5,000 km – significantly improved over the Phase-I capability of about 2,000 km.
During the flight test, all subsystems performed as expected, validated by data captured from various range sensors, including radar, telemetry, and electro-optical tracking stations. The successful test underlines India’s growing prowess in missile defense technology, putting it among an elite group of nations possessing advanced interceptor capabilities.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and related teams for the successful flight test and termed AD-1 as a new-generation interceptor with advanced technologies available in only a few nations of the world. He expressed his confidence that this would take India’s BMD capability to new heights.
Complimenting the operational flexibility the AD-1 missile provides, Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, Chairman DRDO pointed out that the interceptor can engage several target types thus providing a robust defense mechanism against potential threats.
Like the Israeli Arrow Aerial Defence System, the BMD program of India aimed to track and destroy incoming ballistic missiles, even those with nuclear warheads. All in all, the program had two phases: Phase I, which covered missiles with a range of up to 3,000 km, and Phase II for missiles beyond 5,000 km.
Under Phase-I, India has developed a two-tiered BMD system comprising Prithvi Air Defence Vehicle-PAD/ Prithvi Defence Vehicle-PDV for exo-atmospheric interception and Ashwin Advanced Air Defence-AAD interceptors for endo-atmospheric interceptions. Several tests have been carried out for these interceptors, and deployment plans for Phase-I systems are in the process of being enacted.
Phase II will involve the AD-1 and AD-2 missiles. The AD-2 is currently in development to neutralize ballistic missile targets in the intermediate range of 3,000 to 5,500 km. In addition, India is working on its sea-based BMD, having successfully carried out the first flight trial of a sea-based, endo-atmospheric interceptor missile this April 2023.
The test of the AD-1 missile is a big step toward complete, solid protection against long-range ballistic missile threats.