DRDO’s development of the AD-1 interceptor will facilitate the fielding of a credible BMD (Ballistic Missile Defence) system and the deployment of a very capable IADS (Integrated Air Defence System).
The AD-1 missile is a component of the DRDO’s BMD Phase-2 system.
DRDO has already completed the development of BMD Phase-1, which provides defense against missiles with less than 2,000 km range, such as Pakistan’s Ghauri and Shaheen missiles and China’s solid-fuel Dongfeng-21 (NATO designation: CSS-5).
The Phase 2 system will provide defense against ballistic missiles with ranges of up to 5,000 km.
The Phase 2 system requires longer-range radars (Detection range of 1,500 km as opposed to 600 km for Phase 1 radars) and new hypersonic interceptor missiles flying at Mach 6-7 (As opposed to Mach 4-5 for Phase 1 missiles) with agility and the capability to discriminate against ballistic missile defense countermeasures.
Flight Tests
The second flight test of the BMD Phase-2 AD-1 interceptor on July 24 appears to have focused primarily on validating radar tracking, missile guidance, and the communication layer of BMD Phase-2.
The press release announcing the tests states that the test “fully met all the trial objectives validating complete network centric warfare weapon system consisting of Long Range Sensors, low latency communication system and MCC (Missile Control Centre) and Advance Interceptor missiles.”
Unlike the interceptor’s maiden test in November 2022, the second test also included the launch of a target missile. The maiden test validated the basic functionality of the system elements (radar, launcher, MCC) while deployed in their operational geographical locations.
