India has successfully flight-tested the Phase 2 Ballistic Missile Defence System (BMDS) off the Odisha coast, marking a significant step forward for national defense capabilities.
The Phase 2 BMDS test, conducted at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, demonstrated India’s indigenous capability to defend against hostile missiles with a range of up to 5,000 km.
The test involved the successful interception of a target missile mimicking an adversary’s ballistic missile, which was launched from LC-IV Dhamra at 1620 hours.
The advanced area defense (AD) endo-atmospheric missile, a two-stage solid-propelled ground-launched system, was launched from LC-III at ITR in response to the target missile. The interceptor successfully neutralized the incoming threat in the endo to low exo-atmospheric regions, validating the complete network-centric warfare weapon system.
The performance of the missile was monitored from the flight data captured by range tracking instruments like electro-optical systems, radar, and telemetry stations deployed by ITR at various locations, including an onboard ship. The comprehensive monitoring ensured that the Phase 2 BMDS met the highest standards of reliability and effectiveness.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced the milestone achievement via X (Twitter) on July 24, 2024. The latest test marks a crucial step towards enhancing India’s defense against ballistic missile threats.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO on the successful flight test, stating that it has again demonstrated India’s ballistic missile defense capability. The test also validated a comprehensive network-centric warfare weapon system consisting of long-range sensors, low-latency communication systems, and advanced interceptor missiles.
The system’s successful test further strengthens India’s position as the sixth nation to develop a robust BMD system, joining the ranks of the US, UK, Israel, Russia, and China.