The identification of the real warhead is done on ground by the radar and the computer associated with it. If more than one real warhead is estimated, more AADs will be fired and guided to each of them.
I don't think firing 3 missiles will be a problem but objective is to identify the actual missile/ warhead from dummies or decoys and that's what command center did successfully. They completed their task by tracking, identifying and destroying the missile successfully.if they found 3 missile threat they should fire 3 missiles, It will be a multilayered system. As we know none of the missile defense systems is full proof but rigorous testing with complex scenarios make the system more reliable.
It is not anti-MIRV. MIRV works differently. One warhead is deployed in middle stage of boost while other in the last. So, the warheads fall n different targets. For example, with MIRV, one warhead will strike Delhi, other Chandigarh and Third to Agra.
This identification is for MRV only where there are many re-entries at the same spot with several decoys like chaffs, inflatable balloon fired
Yes. For MIRV with decoys is the aim of this exercise. MIRV without decoys will have each warhead being fired at. MIRV with decoys is bigger problem than the MIRV itself.
Are we sure it is to check MIRV capable missiles? To me what DRDO is trying to achieve is the capability to counter Ababeel missile which is supposed to have multiple small warheads as PAK does not actually have MIRV capability but just enough tech to integrate 2-3 small warheads (supposedly 5-10 kt nuclear). MIRV tech with just 2000+ km is hard to digest as an actual MIRV missile which uses terminal velocity to go at targets far in distance.
What you are referring to is MRV. The concept is pretty much the same if your target is Delhi.
But we don't know enough about Ababeel. Let's see when they actually start testing multiple warheads.
Did Pakistan ever test Ababeel properly? How can Pakistan declare a missile as operational just by firing one missile? Why can't India have such capability to operationalise missiles in one single test? Either Pakistan is on steroids or doing something seriously wrong.
They tested one system than can chose between multiple, further development would be a networked interception which would eliminate multiple threats being defeated by multiple kill vehicles. In effect it could track multiple targets and chose the one with highest kill probability. For a mirv attack layered defence would use the same logic, with two kill vehicles per independent target.
Even Shaheen-3 was tested only once. But it is said to be in production. Similarly Ababeel was tested only once and it is said to be in production. How is it possible?
It was tested twice in 2015, and I don't think it's operational yet, at least last year.
I had posted that this test was to take out the real warhead from the decoys and not an anti MIRV test bcoz in case of MIRV, each warhead will be targeted by a separate missile.
The article in fact wrongly speculates that they used an IIR warhead, when the AAD has only an RF seeker.