ABM

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_02120622,0228.htm

DRDO to test new interceptor missile
Rahul Singh

New Delhi, December 2, 2006

Buoyed by the success of its new missile tentatively dubbed 'PAD' which successfully intercepted a modified Prithvi missile off the Orissa coast on November 27, DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) scientists are busy setting the stage for the launch of yet another interceptor missile. This one’s called `AAD.’

The 'PAD,' with a speed of 1,600 metres per second, had intercepted the short-range Prithvi ballistic missile and blown it into smithereens at an altitude of 50 km, signalling that India had the basic building blocks for an exo-atmospheric intercept system.

{I heard 80kms from the CBN video. Could be range}

The 'AAD', an endo-atmospheric interceptor missile will engage a Prithvi, simulating a hostile missile but within the atmospheric limits, at an altitude of 30 km.
{Should have video of this one}

Dr VK Saraswat, chief controller, R&D and programme director (air defence), DRDO, said on Saturday the `AAD’ would be tested within four months. "The intent is to develop exo and endo-atmospheric intercept systems for achieving hit-to-kill probability of 99.8 per cent," said Saraswat, the high-flying DRDO scientist steering India’s ballistic missile defence (BMD) programme.

While the two-stage `PAD’ uses the propulsion system of the Prithvi, the newest missile is not "Prithvi-derived and is an altogether new interceptor missile."

Making a presentation on the November 27 test, Saraswat said the country had developed the technology required to configure a BMD system and "a very good beginning” had been made.

“The test validated many technologies, hardware and software that went into building long-range tracking radars (LRTR), new generation missiles, terminal guidance systems, communication systems and missile control systems,” Saraswat said.

Scientists had been working on the exo-atmospheric intercept system for “almost five years.” Saraswat had no qualms admitting that “experiments do not mean deliverance and at least half a dozen tests would be required before making any commitments could be made on when the system would be ready for users.”

If the DRDO is to be believed, the basic elements for the BMD system have been developed indigenously. Except the LRTR, which is a modified Israeli Green Pine radar. “We have ruggedised the radar and produced most of its components. More than 30 private firms helped us in developing software and hardware for the interception systems.”

Saraswat brushed aside suggestions that Indian BMD system was a derivative of the American PAC-3 or Israeli Arrow-2 ballistic missile defence systems.

The modified Prithvi used as a target for the November 27 test had an in-built reaction control system and when the missile came down it simulated the trajectory of a 300-km class missile. The target for `AAD’ will remain the same.

Email Rahul Singh: rahulsingh@hindustantimes.com

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120312940100.htm

India developing new missiles Towards destroying hostile missiles

Sandeep Dikshit

`India developing complete suite of air defence missiles'

# Missiles to destroy incoming missiles closer to earth's surface on the cards
# First test will take place in first half of 2007, says DRDO

NEW DELHI: "India is developing a complete suite of air defence missiles to destroy all types of hostile missiles," a top Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist said here on Saturday. After successfully conducting a test aimed at intercepting intermediate range ballistic missiles (IRBM) in the exosphere (uppermost layer of atmosphere) last month, India is now working on missiles capable of destroying incoming missiles closer to the earth's surface.

The first test would take place in the first half of 2007. DRDO would then undertake development of missiles with both capabilities.

"The entire project is likely to take three years to complete," said V. K. Saraswat, Chief Controller of DRDO's Missiles and Strategic Systems Division. The shorter-range interceptor missile would have double the range of the American Patriot missiles, he added.

Dwelling on interception by the liquid-fuelled Prithvi missile, Dr. Saraswat said the decision to destroy a missile at a distance of 50 km was undertaken in view of the likely threat perception from IRBMs. Defence scientists were looking at a pack of six missiles to decisively intercept the enemy missile with a kill probability of 99 per cent. They felt two missile batteries would be enough to defend a large city like Delhi or Chennai. The project for developing missile interception capability began three years ago. After several simulations and changes in guidance and control software, the target missile was launched on November 19 this year and intercepted electronically.

This gave DRDO the confidence to conduct a live test a week later. However, the planned launch could not take place because the software to check the health of the subsystems diagnosed the seeker as faulty. "We therefore decided to delay by a day to conduct reconfirmation tests,'' said Dr. Saraswat.

Except for the long-range tracking radar, all other elements were "totally home-grown'' by 35 private and public sector companies. Three million lines of code were written in India for the Mission Control Centre, the hub of software and hardware systems.

A shadow centre was set up to take over if the original centre got destroyed or inactivated.

Transmission links to the interceptor missile were based on jam-proof CDMA technology and multiple data transmission links were set up so that if one was jammed the others could function. In this trial, various data transmission and control centres were spread over a distance of 1,000 km. The DRDO modified the Israeli Greenpine radar to enable it detect IRBM missiles with a velocity of 5 km per second from a distance of 600 km.