India develops new anti-missile system
Media Release
Nov. 27, 2006
India today unveiled an indigenous supersonic anti-missile system with defence scientists saying it had the capability to intercept incoming ballistic missiles thousands of miles away.
Labelled only as AXO (Atmospheric Intercept System), the supersonic missile underwent its baptism when it successfully intercepted a surface-to-surface Prithvi target missile at an altitude of 40 to 50 km over the seas off the interim test range site in Chandipur in Orissa.
"It is a new missile and not part of country's Integrated Guided Missile programme," top DRDO officials said on the condition of anonymity.
"We have been working on this anti-missile system for years," scientists said and claimed that missile had its own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception, independent tracking and homing capability and its own radar.
"The missile has response time of 30 seconds and once it detects a target it can be launched in 50 seconds," the scientists said.
While, affirming that India would still be observing the US Patriot-III anti missile shield, which Washington is developing, the scientists said that the Indian missiles was "in the class of its own".
DRDO did not reveal the contours of the new system developed, hinting that more interception trials could be on the cards.
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