India starts work on Phase-II of missile defence system
18 May 2011
New Delhi: India has begun work on Phase-II of its missile defence (MD) system which will allow it to intercept enemy missiles at distances of 5,000 km, much before they can enter Indian air space. Phase-I of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) MD system has already tested interceptors that can knock-out incoming threats at ranges of 2,000 kms.
According to the scientific advisor to the minister for defence and DRDO chief, Dr VK Saraswat, the 5,000km range interceptors should be deployed around 2016.
"It is well on schedule and we are already on initial design and testing stage," Dr Saraswat said.
"Presently, our missiles are designed to engage targets within 2,000 km range. Later on, we will be making 5,000 km range class of interceptor missiles. That will be Phase-II of the MD system," he said.
DRDO has successfully tested Phase-I of the indigenously developed interceptor missiles last July.
Commenting on the possibility of collaboration with the United States or any other country for development of MD systems, Dr Saraswat said, "Our process of international collaboration is only to accelerate our own development process. Whenever we feel the need of a new technology, we may go for collaborations."
