New Delhi: The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful maiden flight-test of phase-II ballistic missile defence (BMD) interceptor AD-1 missile with large kill altitude bracket from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday.
The flight-test was carried out with participation of all BMD weapon system elements located at different geographical locations.
The AD-1 is a long-range interceptor missile designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception of long-range ballistic missiles as well as aircraft. It is propelled by a two-stage solid motor and equipped with indigenously-developed advanced control system, navigation and guidance algorithm to precisely guide the vehicle to the target.
During the flight-test, all the sub-systems performed as per expectations and were validated by the data captured by a number of range sensors including radar, telemetry and electro optical tracking stations deployed to capture the flight data, stated a press communique issued by the information and broadcasting ministry.
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Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and other teams associated with successful flight trial of AD-1. He described it as a unique type of interceptor with advanced technologies available with a very few nations in the world. He exuded confidence that it will further strengthen the country’s BMD capability to the next level.
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Secretary, department of defence R&D and chairman, DRDO, Samir V Kamat congratulated his team on the successful trial, stating that this interceptor will provide great operational flexibility to the users and having capability to engage many different types of targets.
