India successfully test-fires short-range interceptor missile

India on Wednesday successfully launched the short-range interceptor missile, Advanced Area Defence (AAD), which is capable of destroying incoming missiles at an altitude of 15 to 25 km.

DRDO conducted the successful launch of the AAD interceptor missile at 1015 hrs on Wednesday from Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.

The endo-atmospheric missile, capable of intercepting incoming targets at an altitude of 15 to 25 km successfully destroyed the incoming missile. All the mission objectives were successfully met, DRDO stated in a release.

The weapon system radars tracked the target and provided the initial guidance to the interceptor which could precisely home on to the target and destroyed it in endo-atmospheric layer. The complete event, including the engagement and destruction was tracked by a number of electro-optical tracking systems using infrared imagery. Radars and telemetry stations tracked the target and the interceptor till the destruction of the target. The launch has proved the ballistic missile defence (BMD) prowess of the country.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar congratulated DRDO on the successful launch of the interceptor missile. Chairman DRDO and secretary, Department of Defence R&D, S Christopher, also congratulated team AAD for the successful test firing.

Scientific advisor to the defence minister and director general (missiles and strategic systems), DRDO, G Satheesh Reddy, monitored the launch operation along with other senior officials.