A supersonic interceptor missile developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) was tested July 26, with officials claiming success despite some expressed anxiety.
A similar test this year in March had failed following the target missile’s errant launch. If confirmed, this is the fourth successful test and second successful interception in the endo-atmosphere (within 50 km. of Earth’s surface) and previous tests were done in exo-atmosphere (above 50 km.).
“We even had some anxious moments following a brief telemetry link loss toward the end. However, things became clear once the data was quickly retrieved and analyzed, clearing the confusion,” a senior DRDO scientist told AVIATION WEEK.
The Interceptor Flight Test was witnessed by Dr. VK Saraswat, Secretary (Defence, R&D), Shri Avinash Chandar, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad, Dr. K. Shekhar, Chief Controller, DRDO, Shri VLN Rao, Programme Director, Shri SK Ray, Director, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, Shri P Venugopalan, Director, Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, Shri SP Dash, Director ITR and Users representatives’ Air Marshal PK Barbora, Vice Chief of Air Staff and Maj Gen VK Saxena, ADG, Army Air Defence, Indian Army.
A DRDO press release says that defence minister Antony spoke to DRDO Chief Dr VK Sarswat over phone and congratulated the scientists for the successful test.
A similar test this year in March had failed following the target missile’s errant launch. If confirmed, this is the fourth successful test and second successful interception in the endo-atmosphere (within 50 km. of Earth’s surface) and previous tests were done in exo-atmosphere (above 50 km.).
“We even had some anxious moments following a brief telemetry link loss toward the end. However, things became clear once the data was quickly retrieved and analyzed, clearing the confusion,” a senior DRDO scientist told AVIATION WEEK.
The Interceptor Flight Test was witnessed by Dr. VK Saraswat, Secretary (Defence, R&D), Shri Avinash Chandar, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad, Dr. K. Shekhar, Chief Controller, DRDO, Shri VLN Rao, Programme Director, Shri SK Ray, Director, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, Shri P Venugopalan, Director, Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, Shri SP Dash, Director ITR and Users representatives’ Air Marshal PK Barbora, Vice Chief of Air Staff and Maj Gen VK Saxena, ADG, Army Air Defence, Indian Army.
A DRDO press release says that defence minister Antony spoke to DRDO Chief Dr VK Sarswat over phone and congratulated the scientists for the successful test.
For a related report, hit the link below:
