MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2010
"Enemy" Prithvi Failed, Interceptor Smartly Self-Aborted, Says DRDO
Here's the statement from DRDO about today's abortive AAD test: The flight test under Programme AD was planned to be conducted on 15 Mar 2010 to demonstrate the interception of Tactical Ballistic Missile in endo-atmospheric region. As part of the mission, a target missile mimicking the incoming ballistic missile in terms of altitude and speed, was launched from ITR, Chandipur on 15 Mar 2010 at around 1010 hrs.
The target missile took off in normal way; at T+20 sec (approx) the target deviated due to some onboard system malfunction and could not maintain the intended trajectory, failing to attain the desired altitude profile.
The Mission Control Centre computer found that the interception is not warranted as the deviated target did not present the incoming missile threat scenario and accordingly the system intelligently did not allow take-off of the interceptor missile for engaging the target. The cause of the target malfunction is being investigated by analysis of tele-metered data.
LiveFist - The Best of Indian Defence: "Enemy" Prithvi Failed, Interceptor Smartly Self-Aborted, Says DRDO