Date:09/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/09/stories/2007120953741100.htm

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DRDO eyes launch of integrated air defence system

Special Correspondent

It will have features to double up as a tactical missile

Interceptor missile system home grown: Saraswat
Programme to indigenise radars to put in place a standalone approach

HYDERABAD: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning a demonstration of integrated air defence system in exo-atmosphere (above 40 km altitude) and endo-atmosphere (below 30 km) before June next year.

This follows the successful test-fire of an interceptor missile from the Wheeler Island on Thursday.

Target aircraft

The system will also have built-in features to double up as a tactical missile apart from functioning as an extended air defence system to engage target aircraft beyond 100 km, said Chief Controller, DRDO R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems), V.K. Saraswat, and directors of the missiles complex at a news conference on Saturday.

The team made a video presentation of the lift-off of ‘AAD-02’ (Advanced Air Defence), the interceptor missile, and its homing in on target missile ‘TGT-04’ with the help of radars at Konark and Paradip.

The AAD-02 weighed 1.2 tonnes and the TGT-04 4.5 tonnes, Dr. Saraswat said.

He added that the entire interceptor missile system was home grown except the radars acquired from Israel and France.

The country had also embarked on a programme to indigenise radars to put in place a standalone approach.

Latest project

Dr. Saraswat said the motivation for the latest project was the acquisition of ballistic missiles by other countries.

Thursday’s demonstration showed India’s capability to defend itself against 2,000-km range missile systems.

Answering a question on the possibility of India expanding its ballistic missile technology system, Dr. Saraswat said it was a continuous game based on proliferation programmes between countries in the region.

Rs.2,000 crore spent

India had spent Rs.2,000 crore on its activity in the last seven years while the U.S. has been spending $2 billion each year since the 1980s.

With the latest successful launch, India joins the exclusive club of the United States, Russia, France and Israel in having such an effective air defence system.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation planned a few more trials in the coming years.