India successfully test-fires interceptor missile

26 July 2010

Balasore, Orissa

India today successfully test-fired its indigenously developed interceptor missile, capable of destroying any in-coming hostile ballistic missile, from the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island off Orissa coast.

Aimed at developing a full-fledged multi-layer Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system, the trial was carried out from two launch sites of ITR off the Orissa coast, defence sources said.

The whole exercise is to achieve the desired result with precision, said a senior defence scientist.

The target missile, a modified surface-to-surface 'Prithvi' was first lifted off from a mobile launcher at 10:05 am from the launch complex-3 of ITR at Chandipur-on-sea, 15 km from here.

The interceptor "AAD" missile, positioned at Wheeler Island, about 70 km across sea from Chandipur getting signals from radars tracked it a few minutes later and than intercepted at a definite altitude in the mid-air over the sea, the sources said.

While the test launch of both target and hit missiles were deemed success from their respective test sites, detailed results, specifically the 'kill' effects of the interceptor will be known after all data analysis from multiple tracking sources, a defence official said soon after both the missiles roared into the overcast sky leaving behind a thin layer of smoke.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/India-successfully-test-fires-interceptor-missile/articleshow/6217915.cms

Interceptor missile to be test-fired today by DRDO

July 25, 2010

Preparation for the test-fire of India's own interceptor missile, likely to be conducted tomorrow at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Orissa coast, reached its final stage today.

Range co-ordination work for the proposed trial has been completed and final check-up of the sub-systems are under process, defence sources said.

Scientists of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) are working overtime to see that the proposed trial is successful, they said adding that in March, the tests were put-off twice due to technical problems.

"Aimed at developing a full fledged multi-layer Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system, the mock exercise is to be carried out from two different launch sites of the ITR," said a defence scientist.

The whole exercise is just like hitting a bullet with a bullet, he said.

The target, a modified surface-to-surface missile would first be lifted off from a mobile launcher from the launch complex-3 of ITR at Chandipur-on-sea, 15 km from here.

The interceptor, positioned at the Wheeler Island, about 70 km across sea from Chandipur, which gets signals from radars positioned at different points along the Orissa sea coast would track it and then intercept at a definite altitude mid-air.

Yet to get a formal name, this indigenously developed new hypersonic interceptor missile is designed to be engaged in both endo (within 50 km of earth atmosphere) as well as exo (beyond 50 km of earth atmosphere) atmospheric condition.

The seven-meter long interceptor is a single stage solid rocket propelled guided missile, equipped with an inertial navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activator totally under command by the data up-linked from the sophisticated ground based radars to the interceptor.

This would be the fourth time for the DRDO to test its intercepting missile. The three previous tests were conducted on November 27, 2006, December 6, 2007 and March 6, 2009 from the Wheeler Island.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_final-round-preparation-for-test-firing-of-interceptor-missile-in-orissa_1414326

Software for BrahMos Missile Project

Jul 24, 2010

Madurai

Researchers at Thiagarajar College of Engineering here have been involved in developing enhanced software capability for the BrahMos missile.

Researchers worked on the project for three years and the new software will be evaluated and implemented in future or advanced versions of the missile, according to Mr A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller (Research and Development), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The software will help the missile ‘view' its target , by correlating the target with satellite images The project was funded by BrahMos Aerospace.

Validation of the software will take place within a year, he said, while inaugurating a two-day conference organised by Velammal College of Engineering and Technology, here, on Thursday.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/07/24/stories/2010072451781900.htm

Tank busting Nag missile's final validation trials completed

July 16, 2010

Third generation anti-tank Nag missile is expected to be inducted into the Army's arsenal next year with the successful completion of “final validation trials” in the Chanan Air Force ranges in Rajasthan.

The hit-to-kill missile proved its capability against both moving and stationary targets with precision. In all, four missiles — two each against a moving target and a derelict Vijayanta tank — were fired to cover varying ranges of 500 metres to 2,600 metres on Wednesday, a senior Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) official told TheHindu from Rajasthan.

The “fire-and-forget” missile was bang on target. Each time, two missiles were fired consecutively within a span of few minutes against a moving and another stationary target. Moving with a speed of 210 metres per second, Nag caused extensive damage to stationary Vijayanta tanks on both the occasions, the official said.

Channel-crossing ability

The “flotation trials” of the Nag Missile Carrier (Namica) were held on Thursday in the Indira Gandhi Canal, Nachna, during which the entire system manoeuvred through the canal and established its “channel-crossing ability.” Namica was produced by Bharat Electronics Ltd., while the reconfigured launcher platform was developed by Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai. Each NAMICA can carry eight missiles in ready-to-fire mode.

Deputy Chief of the Army Staff Lt. Gen. J. P. Singh and Director-General, Mechanised Forces, Lt. Gen. Dalip Bharadwaj witnessed the trials.

The official said the Army was satisfied with the performance of the missile. He expressed confidence that it would be inducted by early next year. It is likely to replace the imported second generation missiles. Bharat Dynamics Ltd has established facilities for producing 100 Nag missiles a year.

Last month, following a request from the Army, Nag, which has a maximum range of four km, destroyed both moving and stationary targets at a short range of 500 metres within a few seconds of its launch.

Equipped with a Imaging Infra-Red seeker — that cannot be jammed — the missile has top-attack capability and carries a highly potent tandem HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) warhead that can defeat modern tanks and armoured vehicles. Another unique feature of the missile is that it has a low smoke propellant that would make it difficult for the adversary to identify the firing place.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/16/stories/2010071653531500.htm

India to test Interceptor Missile in August as part of efforts to build ballistic missile defence shield

July 11, 2010

India will launch in early August an interceptor called Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile to shoot down an incoming “enemy missile” as part of its efforts to build a credible ballistic missile defence shield.

After the “enemy” missile takes off from its launch pad at the Integrated Test Range, (ITR) Balasore, Orisssa, the AAD missile will pounce upon it midway, lifting off from the Wheeler Island in the Bay of Bengal, about 60 km off Balasore.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has built both the missiles and will launch them. Preparations are progressing apace for the launches.

V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, said the AAD interceptor “is not one of the existing missiles,” hinting that it has been newly developed.

The target “is a modified missile” and the interception would take place in endo-atmosphere. But the interception would be at a high altitude in the endo-atmosphere. While the endo-atmosphere is 50 km and below, the exo-atmosphere is above 50 km. Rains had led to the test being postponed from July to August.

Of the four interceptor missile tests so far, the first three were successful. The last one in March 2010 was a failure.

Dr. Saraswat, who is also Director-General, DRDO, said the test-flights of Astra, India's air-to-air missile on Tuesday and Wednesday were aimed at demonstrating its high manoeuvrability, and its control and guidance systems.

“The Astra is meant for destroying aerial targets. It is a gradual process of proving its control and guidance systems. Before we integrate the missile with an aircraft, we should prove all this. [However], we have flown the missile integrated with an aircraft and it was done in Pune,” he said.

The missile was integrated with a Sukhoi-30 aircraft. But the tests on Tuesday and Wednesday took place from the ground at the ITR.

The Astra is about 3.6 metre long and weighs 160 kg.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/11/stories/2010071163301000.htm

Astra missile test-fired for second consecutive day

File picture of Astra Missile

July 7, 2010

India on Wednesday test-fired Astra, the indigenously developed beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile at Chandipur near here, hours after carrying out the first night trial of the weapon.

The sophisticated missile was fired from a launcher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) complex, about 15 km from here, at 2.07 pm, defence sources said.

The second consecutive trial comes after the missile was test-fired for the first time for night trial in inclement weather conditions on Tuesday night. The data generated were being thoroughly examined by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists, the sources said.

The single stage, solid-fuelled Astra is more advanced in its category than the contemporary BVR missiles and is capable of engaging and destroying highly manoeuvrable supersonic aerial targets, DRDO scientists said.

The 3.8-metre-long missile, which has a diameter of 178 mm, can carry a warhead containing explosives weighing 15 kg and can be fitted to any fighter aircraft.

It is intended for eventual integration with the IAFs Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Jaguar and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, the sources said.

Describing Astra as a futuristic missile, the scientists said the weapon could intercept targets at supersonic speed (mach 1.2 to 1.4).

Before being made fully operational, the complex missile system will undergo some more trials, though tests of its navigation, control, air frame, propulsion and other sub-systems have been validated, the sources said.

Though the exact range of Wednesday’s trial was not disclosed, DRDO scientists are working to ensure Astra performs effectively at different altitudes — one cruising at an altitude of 15 km with 90 to 110 km range, another at an altitude up to 30,000 ft, having a range of 44 km and the third at sea level with a range of 25 km, the sources said.

The trials of Astra, conducted on January 11 this year from the same base, were successful.

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/article504428.ece

Astra Beyond Visual Range Missile successfully test-fired

File picture of Astra Missile

July 6, 2010

India on Tuesday conducted the night trial of its indigenously developed beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile 'Astra' in inclement weather.

Defence sources said the sophisticated missile was test-fired from a launcher in launch pad number two of the Integrated Test Range complex at Chandipur, about 15km from Balasore, Orissa, at about 8.15 pm.

The single stage, solid fuelled 'Astra' missile is more advanced in its category than the contemporary BVR missiles and is capable of engaging and destroying highly maneuverable supersonic aerial targets, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said.

The 3.8 metre long missile, which has a diametre of 178 mm, can carry a warhead containing explosives weighing 15 kg and can be fitted to any fighter aircraft.

It is intended to be eventually integrated with IAF's Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Jaguar and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, the sources said.

Describing 'Astra' as a futuristic missile, DRDO scientists said the weapon could intercept the target at supersonic speed (mach 1.2 to 1.4).

"Before being made fully operational, the complex missile system will undergo some more trials, though tests of its navigation, control, air frame, propulsion and other sub-system have been validated," the sources said.

Though the exact range of today's trial has not been disclosed, DRDO scientists are working to ensure that 'Astra' performs effectively at different altitudes - one cruising at an altitude of 15km with 90 to 110km range, another at an altitude up to 30,000 ft, having a range of 44km and the third at sea level with a range of 25km, the sources said.

The last two trials of Astra, conducted on January 11 from the same base, were successful.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/air-to-air-missile-astra-successfully-test-fired-35977