Ashwin
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has come up with a new indigenously produced Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile, Ashwin. The missile was tested on the newly named Abdul Kalam Island located in the Balashore district off the Odisha coast. This was the 12th test in the series to develop interceptor missiles.
About Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile, Ashwin
- Ashwin is capable of destroying any incoming hostile ballistic missile.
- Indigenously developed by DRDO, the ADD interceptor missile is a 7.5-meter long single-stage solid rocket propelled guided missile equipped with a navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activator.
- It weighs around 1.2 tonnes and has a diameter of less than 0.5 meter.
- With this, India became the fourth country to have successfully developed this anti-ballistic missile system. The other three are United States, Russia and Israel. This development now strengthens India’s position in the very exclusive Ballistic Missile Defence club of the three countries.
Prithvi-II
India has successfully test-fired its indigenously-developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile as part of a user trial by the army from a test range at Chandipur in Odisha. A similar twin trial was conducted on 12 October 2009 from the same base where both were successful.
- With a strike range of 350 km, the Prithvi-II is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines.
- It uses advanced inertial guidance system with maneuvering trajectory to hit its target.
- Inducted into Indian armed forces in 2003, the nine-metre-tall, single-stage liquid-fueled Prithvi II is the first missile to be developed by DRDO under India’s prestigious IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program) and is now a proven technology.
