Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme - Updates and Discussions

India completes phase one of ballistic missile defence programme, nod for missiles awaited

Phase one of the programme will see Delhi and Mumbai being guarded against incoming ballistic missiles.

SNEHESH ALEX PHILIP Updated: 22 April, 2019 5:04 pm IST


DRDO-A-SAT-missile-696x392.jpg

Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Interceptor missile being launched by DRDO in A-SAT missile test in Odisha | PTI

New Delhi: In a boost to India’s deterrence capabilities, the phase one of the ambitious Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) programme has been completed and a formal nod for the deployment of active missiles is expected soon, top sources told ThePrint.

Phase one of the programme will cover Delhi and Mumbai, and guard them against incoming ballistic missiles.

“The phase one of the Ballistic Missile Defence programme has been completed. We have deployed two indigenous long-range radars as part of the programme. As and when we get an all-clear from the government, the specific missiles will be deployed,” a top source in the defence establishment told ThePrint.

Sources also said adequate arrangements have been made to ensure that missiles were produced in the required manner.

Asked by when the permission for the deployment of missiles is expected, another top source said, “soon” without getting into any time line.

‘Radars have higher range and capability’
Sources said the two radars that have been deployed are completely indigenous.

It was in the mid-2000s that India got Swordfish from Israel. The Swordfish is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) long-range tracking radar, specifically built to counter ballistic missile threat.

This radar is a derivative of the Israeli Green Pine long-range radar, which is the critical component of its arrow missile defence system. However, Swordfish uses a number of indigenous systems.

“After Swordfish, we have managed to make two indigenous radars with higher range and capability,” a defence source said.

BMD programme
India’s Ballistic Missile Defence programme was launched in 1999 in the wake of Pakistan’s maiden nuclear test in 1998 and China’s leaps in this sphere.

BMD works on two levels — endo-atmospheric (within Earth’s atmosphere) and exo-atmospheric (the space stretching beyond the Earth’s atmosphere).

While phase one deals with destroying incoming missiles at endo-atmospheric level, phase two deals with the same in exo-atmospheric level.

India’s BMD arsenal consists of a Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile to take out incoming missiles at a range of about 80 km in altitude and an Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile for altitudes of 15-25 km.

In 2017, India had tested a new exo-atmospheric interceptor missile named the Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV), which reportedly intercepted a missile at an altitude of 100 km during trials.

The first missile test for a BMD system was conducted in November 2006, when a Prithvi-II missile was successfully intercepted by the PAD in the endo-atmospheric level at an altitude of about 48 km.

India completes phase one of ballistic missile defence programme, nod for missiles awaited
 
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How many times will it be ready ?


India completes phase one of ballistic missile defence programme, nod for missiles awaited

Phase one of the programme will see Delhi and Mumbai being guarded against incoming ballistic missiles.

SNEHESH ALEX PHILIP Updated: 22 April, 2019 5:04 pm IST


DRDO-A-SAT-missile-696x392.jpg

Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Interceptor missile being launched by DRDO in A-SAT missile test in Odisha | PTI

New Delhi: In a boost to India’s deterrence capabilities, the phase one of the ambitious Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) programme has been completed and a formal nod for the deployment of active missiles is expected soon, top sources told ThePrint.

Phase one of the programme will cover Delhi and Mumbai, and guard them against incoming ballistic missiles.

“The phase one of the Ballistic Missile Defence programme has been completed. We have deployed two indigenous long-range radars as part of the programme. As and when we get an all-clear from the government, the specific missiles will be deployed,” a top source in the defence establishment told ThePrint.

Sources also said adequate arrangements have been made to ensure that missiles were produced in the required manner.

Asked by when the permission for the deployment of missiles is expected, another top source said, “soon” without getting into any time line.

‘Radars have higher range and capability’
Sources said the two radars that have been deployed are completely indigenous.

It was in the mid-2000s that India got Swordfish from Israel. The Swordfish is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) long-range tracking radar, specifically built to counter ballistic missile threat.

This radar is a derivative of the Israeli Green Pine long-range radar, which is the critical component of its arrow missile defence system. However, Swordfish uses a number of indigenous systems.

“After Swordfish, we have managed to make two indigenous radars with higher range and capability,” a defence source said.

BMD programme
India’s Ballistic Missile Defence programme was launched in 1999 in the wake of Pakistan’s maiden nuclear test in 1998 and China’s leaps in this sphere.

BMD works on two levels — endo-atmospheric (within Earth’s atmosphere) and exo-atmospheric (the space stretching beyond the Earth’s atmosphere).

While phase one deals with destroying incoming missiles at endo-atmospheric level, phase two deals with the same in exo-atmospheric level.

India’s BMD arsenal consists of a Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile to take out incoming missiles at a range of about 80 km in altitude and an Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile for altitudes of 15-25 km.

In 2017, India had tested a new exo-atmospheric interceptor missile named the Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV), which reportedly intercepted a missile at an altitude of 100 km during trials.

The first missile test for a BMD system was conducted in November 2006, when a Prithvi-II missile was successfully intercepted by the PAD in the endo-atmospheric level at an altitude of about 48 km.

India completes phase one of ballistic missile defence programme, nod for missiles awaited
 
View attachment 17849

View attachment 17850

Basically, we are building/build PAC-3,THAAD,SM-3 and Aster-30. 🤷‍♂️

Meanwhile, we ordered $6 billion S400 from mother Russia!.

The AAD and PDV are being given the BMD mission specifically, whereas the S-400 also has an anti-air component, which is primary. Not to mention the S-400 is mature and proven, is standalone and can protect itself, whereas our BMD will need other SAMs to protect it, including perhaps the S-400.

Also, the S-400 is a tactical system meant to be used in a warzone, whereas the BMD system protects targets deep inside the country and does not face the same type and intensity of threats.

Btw, BMD Phase I is not comparable to Aster-30 though, only the AD-1 will be.
 
The AAD and PDV are being given the BMD mission specifically, whereas the S-400 also has an anti-air component, which is primary. Not to mention the S-400 is mature and proven, is standalone and can protect itself, whereas our BMD will need other SAMs to protect it, including perhaps the S-400.

Also, the S-400 is a tactical system meant to be used in a warzone, whereas the BMD system protects targets deep inside the country and does not face the same type and intensity of threats.

Btw, BMD Phase I is not comparable to Aster-30 though, only the AD-1 will be.
Not at all the point i was making.
 

Extremely Detailed graphic on what an AD system entails. I guess an exhaustive write up to the accompanying graphic would be in order in the Indian context about the various components we possess, ones under development, the degree of indigenousness, imports, where we seem to be lacking, possible date of total deployment of all such assets with proper C&C in place like what the US & Russia have & what the latter's helping China achieven, etc.

PKS is a decent source too. I believe he did put out a decent article on India's AD system & what needs to be done sometime ago.

@Gautam
 

Extremely Detailed graphic on what an AD system entails. I guess an exhaustive write up to the accompanying graphic would be in order in the Indian context about the various components we possess, ones under development, the degree of indigenousness, imports, where we seem to be lacking, possible date of total deployment of all such assets with proper C&C in place like what the US & Russia have & what the latter's helping China achieven, etc.

PKS is a decent source too. I believe he did put out a decent article on India's AD system & what needs to be done sometime ago.

@Gautam

I am already writing another article. Might take a while, I am a bit busy. Why don't you give it a go ? Create a new thread & write the starting post. Others will contribute then with corrections & additions.

You can use that BMD thread from Startfront's twitter as a good starting point.
 
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