India 2018:- India Plans To Deploy Advanced Ballistic Missile Shield

After the recent successful trial of the homegrown interceptor missile at high altitude, India is now planning to deploy by late 2018 the anti-ballistic missile system to protect its metros from hostile aerial attacks.

A senior defence official said, radar sites have been selected to deploy the Phase-I two-tier interceptor defence system to provide an effective missile shield against incoming hostile projectiles both conventional and nuclear around New Delhi in the first phase. The decision to implement the system in other metros and other critical asset locations will be taken this year after a couple of more trials of the system is accomplished in a coordinated manner.

The milestone ballistic missile defence system provides a two-layered shield – ‘exo’ and ‘endo’. What this effectively means is that the system provides protection both against ballistic missiles that are outside (exo) as well as inside (endo) the earth’s atmosphere. In the March 1 test, the endo-atmospheric missile, capable of intercepting incoming targets at an altitude of 15 to 25 kms successfully destroyed the incoming missile. All the mission objectives were successfully met, says DRDO.

Swordfish long-range tracking AESA radar specifically developed to counter ballistic missile threat will be deployed just of New Delhi in an area called Roopnagar which will be able to monitor a Short/Medium Range Ballistic Missiles launch from Northern-west areas of Pakistan, while a Second radar site will in Khoa area to provide Radar cover to Mumbai.

After successful implementation in Delhi and Mumbai, the system will be deployed to cover all other major cities and vital installations in the country. The interceptors can destroy incoming ballistic missiles launched from more than 2,000 km away. The missiles will work in tandem to ensure a hit probability of 99.8 per cent.

Why India Wants a BMD System

Many factors have motivated India’s quest for missile defense. First, Pakistan’s inclinations to pursue low intensity conflicts and foment terrorism under the shield of its nuclear arsenal have made India extremely uncomfortable with the strategic situation in the region. The Kargil War, 2002 attack on the Indian parliament and 2008 Mumbai attacks were symptomatic of this strategic imbroglio. Many in Delhi hope missile defense will provide India a space for limited wars against Pakistan.

The DRDO has two phases of the BMD systems. While the phase-I interceptors are now ready for deployment, the phase-II missiles, capable of thwarting threats from enemy missiles with ranges of 5,000 km, are expected to be ready in next couple of years.

Meanwhile, the DRDO is developing a laser-based BMD system. The new interceptor can travel at the speed of sound and kill incoming missiles in less than one minute. It will have the flexibility to be fired from both airborne and seaborne platforms.

‘’We have already test-fired exo and endo interceptors separately. Preparation is on to test the two simultaneously at different targets before their deployment. Thereafter, we will go for the test of laser-based BMD system,’’ the officer added.