Context:
- India on successfully test-fired the endo-atmospheric Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile, which is a part of the country’s ballistic missile defence (BMD) shield against a multiple target scenario.
- It was the first time that the AAD was tested against multiple targets, and it constitutes a major milestone in India’s quest to develop a home-grown ballistic missile defence system.
- The missile is 24.6 feet long and is equipped with a state-of-the-art navigation system. It is a single-stage, solid fuel, rocket-propelled guided missile that can track its target independently.
- It is capable of intercepting incoming targets at an altitude of 15 to 25 km and against multiple simulated targets of 1500 km class ballistic missile.
About Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile
- The AAD missile is part of India’s planned two-layered ballistic missile defence (BMD) system.
- Both PAD(Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)) and PDV(Prithvi Defence Vehicle) are designed for the mid-course interception in other words intercepting the incoming ballistic missile in space after the rocket burns out.
- AAD constitutes the second-tier defence against ballistic missile threats.