India eyes key missile defence test

[Flintlock]

India eyes key missile defence test

NEW DELHI: Very soon, India will take a crucial step towards proving its fledgling ballistic missile defence (BMD) system. In the first week of December, the country plans to unleash a new "interceptor" missile to "kill" an incoming "hostile" missile over the Bay of Bengal.

This new interceptor missile, an "endo-atmospheric" one, will take on the "enemy" missile at an altitude of 15-20 km above the earth, on the lines of the American Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) system.

A year ago, on November 27, India had tested an "exo-atmospheric" hypersonic interceptor missile to successfully destroy an incoming Prithvi missile at an altitude of around 50 km, demonstrating a capability akin to the Israeli Arrow-2 BMD system.

In effect, the two tests taken together will constitute the first phase in India’s quest to develop a "unique" two-tier BMD system, capable of tracking and destroying hostile missiles both inside (endo) and outside (exo) the earth’s atmosphere.

"With a two-layered system, analogous to both PAC-3 and Arrow-2, the aim is to first engage in exo and then intercept the leakers in endo to ensure a kill probability of 99.8%," DRDO’s chief controller for missiles, V K Saraswat, told TOI.

India eyes key missile defence test-India-The Times of India

 

[aryan2007]

NEW DELHI: In the first week of December, the country plans to unleash a new "interceptor" missile to "kill" an incoming "hostile" missile over the Bay of Bengal.

During the test, a Prithvi missile, modified to "mimic" a hostile ballistic missile with a 300-1,000 km range, will first be fired from the Balasore interim test range in Orissa.

The incoming missile will then be tracked by long-range tracking radars (LRTRs), developed with Israeli help and is a part of the automated command and control network. LRTRs in turn will convey the "threat" to the "endo" (taking the "enemy" missile at an 15-20 km altitude above the earth) missile battery in far away Wheeler Island.

Finally, the interceptor missile will blast off with a roar to eventually destroy the "enemy" missile in fireworks over the Bay of Bengal. The new "endo" missile has been dubbed AAD (advanced air defence), while the "exo" missile was called PAD (Prithvi air defence).

"The endgame this time will be technologically more complex than the exo test because of atmospheric disturbances and other factors. AAD, in fact, will be slightly better than PAC-3 in terms of range and altitude of interception," said DRDO chief controller, R&D, V K Saraswat. In the next phase, defence scientists plan to test PAD and AAD together in an integrated mode. But before you think that India now finally has some sort of a missile defence shield to guard against Pakistani and Chinese nuclear-capable missiles, hold your breath. Such a capability is still several years away.

For one, BMD capabilities are very complex. For another, they require huge investments. Given its size, India would require a large overlapping network of early-warning sensors, command posts and anti-missile land and sea-based missile batteries.

A missile launched from Pakistan, after all, can reach India in barely 5 to 7 minutes. But yes, it can be said India is now finally on its way to join the US, Russia and Israel in the very exclusive BMD club.

"The system will have to be tested for a variety of flight envelopes. We will have to undertake 5-6 trials over the next 2-3 years to validate the complete spectrum of engagement. Only after that can the production and operationalization phase commence," said Saraswat. The 10-metre tall PAD missile was designed by taking Prithvi's propulsion system and adding a second stage to it to ensure it goes up to a height of about 80 km.

The 7-metre tall AAD interceptor, in turn, is a new single-stage missile, powered by solid propellant, with terminal homing seekers and inertial navigation system. It will be able to reach an altitude of almost 30 km.

Interestingly, the crucial LRTRs used in the tests are based on the two Israeli Green Pine early-warning and fire control radars imported by India in 2001-2002.

"But we have upgraded LRTR, which is 30-40% better in target classification and identification. It can prioritize the incoming threats and track 200 targets simultaneously," said Saraswat.

LRTR has a detection range of 600 km and is capable of tracking intermediate range ballistic missiles, with velocities up to 5,000 metre per second. Incidentally, a ballistic missile can be targeted at all the three points in its parabolic trajectory — boost or launch phase, mid-course in space or terminal phase during atmospheric descent.

DRDO, on its part, has designed the BMD system, which will be upgraded in the coming years, to intercept an incoming missile at both the "second mid-course and terminal phases".

India on way to joining exclusive BMD club-India-The Times of India

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

In any real war senario till date (with the execption of PAC system which shot down 1960s technology scuds) no anti ballistic missile system has been tested and furthermore only system in the world which will be able to stop incoming ICBM's or IRBM's will be Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which will only be operation in next decade.

Since Ballistic missiles mostly use MIRVed warheads, ABM systems in world have become increasing in-effective and only to certain level have the capability to intercept incoming Ballistic Missile in their last stage of re-entry in earth atmosphere.

 

[su-47]

In any real war senario till date (with the execption of PAC system which shot down 1960s technology scuds) no anti ballistic missile system has been tested and furthermore only system in the world which will be able to stop incoming ICBM's or IRBM's will be Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which will only be operation in next decade.

Since Ballistic missiles mostly use MIRVed warheads, ABM systems in world have become increasing in-effective and only to certain level have the capability to intercept incoming Ballistic Missile in their last stage of re-entry in earth atmosphere.

The arrow 2, S-300 and S-400 have all been tested succesfully against ABMs.

MIRVs are a problem, but right now pak has no missile with MIRV capability, so India's missile shield can pose a threat. Even with MIRVs, a concentrated missile shield can reduce the chance of succesful strike

 

[IceCold]

The arrow 2, S-300 and S-400 have all been tested succesfully against ABMs.

MIRVs are a problem, but right now pak has no missile with MIRV capability, so India's missile shield can pose a threat. Even with MIRVs, a concentrated missile shield can reduce the chance of succesful strike

Well there was a news in jang news paper and this same news is also published in wikipedia that pakistan has MIRV capabilities in its shaheen program. A senior member can perhaps confirm the news.

 

[KENT]

NEW DELHI: In the first week of December, the country plans to unleash a new "interceptor" missile to "kill" an incoming "hostile" missile over the Bay of Bengal.

During the test, a Prithvi missile, modified to "mimic" a hostile ballistic missile with a 300-1,000 km range, will first be fired from the Balasore interim test range in Orissa.

The incoming missile will then be tracked by long-range tracking radars (LRTRs), developed with Israeli help and is a part of the automated command and control network. LRTRs in turn will convey the "threat" to the "endo" (taking the "enemy" missile at an 15-20 km altitude above the earth) missile battery in far away Wheeler Island.

Finally, the interceptor missile will blast off with a roar to eventually destroy the "enemy" missile in fireworks over the Bay of Bengal. The new "endo" missile has been dubbed AAD (advanced air defence), while the "exo" missile was called PAD (Prithvi air defence).

"The endgame this time will be technologically more complex than the exo test because of atmospheric disturbances and other factors. AAD, in fact, will be slightly better than PAC-3 in terms of range and altitude of interception," said DRDO chief controller, R&D, V K Saraswat. In the next phase, defence scientists plan to test PAD and AAD together in an integrated mode. But before you think that India now finally has some sort of a missile defence shield to guard against Pakistani and Chinese nuclear-capable missiles, hold your breath. Such a capability is still several years away.

For one, BMD capabilities are very complex. For another, they require huge investments. Given its size, India would require a large overlapping network of early-warning sensors, command posts and anti-missile land and sea-based missile batteries.

A missile launched from Pakistan, after all, can reach India in barely 5 to 7 minutes. But yes, it can be said India is now finally on its way to join the US, Russia and Israel in the very exclusive BMD club.

"The system will have to be tested for a variety of flight envelopes. We will have to undertake 5-6 trials over the next 2-3 years to validate the complete spectrum of engagement. Only after that can the production and operationalization phase commence," said Saraswat. The 10-metre tall PAD missile was designed by taking Prithvi's propulsion system and adding a second stage to it to ensure it goes up to a height of about 80 km.

The 7-metre tall AAD interceptor, in turn, is a new single-stage missile, powered by solid propellant, with terminal homing seekers and inertial navigation system. It will be able to reach an altitude of almost 30 km.

Interestingly, the crucial LRTRs used in the tests are based on the two Israeli Green Pine early-warning and fire control radars imported by India in 2001-2002.

"But we have upgraded LRTR, which is 30-40% better in target classification and identification. It can prioritize the incoming threats and track 200 targets simultaneously," said Saraswat.

LRTR has a detection range of 600 km and is capable of tracking intermediate range ballistic missiles, with velocities up to 5,000 metre per second. Incidentally, a ballistic missile can be targeted at all the three points in its parabolic trajectory — boost or launch phase, mid-course in space or terminal phase during atmospheric descent.

DRDO, on its part, has designed the BMD system, which will be upgraded in the coming years, to intercept an incoming missile at both the "second mid-course and terminal phases".

India on way to joining exclusive BMD club-India-The Times of India

This is absolutely a great news indeed, this news has made my day.

 

[su-47]

Well there was a news in jang news paper and this same news is also published in wikipedia that pakistan has MIRV capabilities in its shaheen program. A senior member can perhaps confirm the news.

I wasnt aware of that.


Even if Shaheen is MIRV capable, a missile defence shield ca still be useful. Though the MIRVs reduce the chance of a completely succesful interception, they dont rule it out completely either. there will still be a chance of interception, and that is better than nothing.