INDIAN BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE SYSTEM

BMDP aims to provide an effective missile shield against incoming enemy ballistic and nuclear missiles. A hostile missile needs to be intercepted at boost (launch) point, mid-course (flight through space) or terminal phase (during atmospheric descent).

• It is being developed by the DRDO as a two layered system to tackle endo and exo missiles.

• The BMD is a fully automated system which comprises of:

  • Overlapping network of early warning and tracking radar

  • Reliable command and control post

  • Land and sea-based batteries of advanced interceptor missile

It is a Two tier system:

• Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile:

  • The PAD is for high altitude interception and

  • It intercepts missiles at altitudes between 50km-80km.

• Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Missile:

  • The AAD is a low altitude interception system and the

  • It destroys the target at altitudes of 15km-30km.

Working:

• The endo-atmospheric defence system made a direct hit with the incoming missile.

• The shooting down an incoming missile at lower altitudes is more complicated than shooting at higher altitudes due to the higher velocity of the missile.

• At the terminal stage of its flight, the missile is at its maximum velocity.

Significance:

• The PAD system was tested in November 2006, and the AAD in December 2007. 

• With the test of the PAD missile, India became the fourth country to have successfully developed an anti-ballistic missile system, after the United States of America, Russia, and Israel.

• As of 2020, the first phase of the programme is complete and DRDO is waiting for government nod to install the missiles shield over the National capital