DRDO Tests PAD Interceptor Missile as well as Brahmos
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    • Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully tested an indigenously developed interceptor missile. The missile interceptor, a Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) projectile, shot down a variant of the Dhanush surface-to-surface missile from a surface naval platform that simulated the terminal phase of a 1,500 km range ‘enemy’ ballistic missile1. The PAD missile, a two-stage rocket that uses liquid fuel in the initial stage and solid fuel in the second stage, intercepted the incoming missile at an altitude of 80 km off the coast of Orissa2. DRDO scientists noted that the interceptor was equipped with a 360 degree rotating Gimballed Directional Warhead (GDW) for the first time3.

    The DRDO also succeeded in its second attempt to test-fire the 290-km range Brahmos supersonic cruise missile at Pokhran, Rajasthan. The missile was the latest Block-II variant of the Brahmos, which is two times heavier than the US Tomahawk cruise missile and four times as fast4. The Indian Army, which is the end-user, however was yet to confirm whether the performance of the missile was a success as they were still evaluating flight data5. Reports noted that the two vital benchmarks for the Army were whether the missile hit its target perfectly and successfully executed an ‘S’ maneuver that enables evasion of missile interception6.

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