The freighter is for testing purposes. This is actually a step forward for Indian BMD testing and finetuning.We already know that with our present capabilities and with even acquisition of S400, our FCR radars and our response via SAMs can at best do help us track an IRBM ranged missile. We have been working on LRTR modifications (with Israel) and will surely upgrade the S400 FCRs to possibly S500 standards over time. Along with military satellites, this does provide us with first issue of detection
For our interceptor missiles (AAD HTK endo atmospheric /PAD proximity fuse detonated exo atmospheric and even modified Agni 1 (brainstorming going on as far as i am told) or PDV exo atmospheric, the actual testing for an exo atmospheric mid course or boost course interception requires an actual IRBM missile to be fired to see the actual test results and collect valuable data. At present we are feeding the data in a system to simulate more then actual interception for IRBMs. Whereas our plan was to do actual tests of IRBM class to lower ICBM class via later AD1 AD2 interception in Phase 2 BMD project. This Test vessel thus serves the purpose of transporting the test missile to Indian Oceanic region in Southern hemisphere or near equator for a target in bay of bengal or wheeler island type range and interception planned in a manner that if it fails also valuable data is collected via live testing and also no damage happens due to failed intercept.
Ideally we should have build such ships around 2010 itself and should have done at least interception live test with Agni 1 and Agni 2 and perhaps tried PDV with Agni 3 to see how the Phase 1 higher order versus Phase 2 lower strata missiles and intercept implies the leap of actual interceptors and capabilities plus challenges.
With time we need to see how a MIRV capable IRBMs behave in a real live data scenario versus our interceptors and get a shield upto 5k km range deployed live. May be later we may see K4 also used by subs launched for testing. Then only we can concentrate on 5-10k km range where i see instead of freighter perhaps a live firing of K series (K5) firing from a sub with dummy warhead used instead of this freighter. A5/A6 in freighter looks more difficult IMHO.
@sarjenprabhu
Bro, a flotilla with freighter for a A5/A6 is far easily trackable and will be taken out quickly or neutralised first. In fact a system hack can be counter productive if either the codes gets hacked (very difficult but a missile can be launched if the ship is hijacked and the command officer does use the cards and keys to authorise again partly as he will not have full system codes for launch authorisation ) or the missile gets hijacked/stolen.
The second strike deterrence requires a capability to strike with a overwhelming reply via mediums which are sea based, independently secure and most importantly difficult to track (via mobility, stealth and anti detection capability).
The ability of a lone wolf SSBN popping up to surface, opening 8 missile door hatches and plundering 8 K5s or 8x3 = 24 N tipped Nirbhays (when we successfully test Sub launched SLCM) is a much more fear evoking capability then having a big freighter and ships protecting moving all around under the eyes of satellite with abilities of AShM, torpedoes to even accurate bombing via air raids always running high (ala defcon 2/3 state always running with that flotilla).