Advanced Anti Ballistic Missile Defence Systems

The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Program aims to protect the nation from ballistic missile threats with a layered defence system. Phase 1 focuses on intercepting missiles up to 2000 km using advanced technologies like PAD, AAD, and Prithvi Defence Vehicles. Phase 2 is in development to intercept missiles up to 5000 km. India is also integrating NASAMS-II and S-400 Triumf systems to enhance its air defence against various threats.

Advanced Missile Defence Systems and Technologies

Indian Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Program: It is an initiative to develop and deploy a multilayered ballistic missile defence system to protect our country from ballistic missile attacks in two phases.

Phase 1: 

• Phase 1 focuses on intercepting missiles with a range of up to 2000 km. It includes:

• Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)/Pradyumna Ballistic missile Interceptor: This missile is an exoatmospheric Anti-Ballistic missile with a maximum flight altitude of 80 km (max speed: 8 Mach) and a range of 300-2000 km. 
  • It has a two-stage rocket booster with a first stage: dual propellant liquid fuel and a second solid fuel stage. 
• Advanced Air Defence (AAD)/ Ashwin Ballistic Missile Interceptor: It is an endoatmospheric Anti-Ballistic missile and can intercept and destroy a target in the lower atmospheric layer. 
  • It’s a single-stage solid-fueled missile with a maximum range from 150 to 200 km and a maximum altitude in interception range of 30 km. 
• Prithvi Defence Vehicle: It is an exoatmospheric Anti-Ballistic missile which has the same range as PAD (300-2000 km) but enhanced flight altitude of 150 km with a more accurate guidance system.
• Prithvi Defence Vehicle Mk-2 /ASAT: This missile is an exoatmospheric Anti-Ballistic missile which intercepts a missile/satellite out in orbit and has a maximum flight altitude of 1200 km. 
  • It has a two-stage rocket motor with a third stage added as a kinetic kill vehicle, which helps the projectile to forcefully hit the target with a >10 cm accuracy.
• Swordfish RADAR: Swordfish (Brain of ABM) is an Indian active electronically scanned array (AESA) long-range tracking radar based on Israeli EL/M-2080 Green Pine long-range radar.

Phase 2

• Phase 2 will be capable of intercepting missiles up to 5000 km and is under development.
• Air Defence 1 missile: The AD-1 (Air Defence) is a long-range interceptor missile designed for both low exoatmospheric and endoatmospheric interception of long-range ballistic missiles and aircraft. 
• Propulsion System: The missile is propelled by a two-stage solid motor and equipped with an indigenously developed advanced control system. 
• Development of AD-2 Missile: The AD-2 capable of neutralising missiles of even higher ranges, is also said to be under development.

National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System-II (NASAMS-II)

India is set to get NASAMS II from the USA, which will be used for New Delhi along with the BMD and the current air defence systems from Russia (Pechora) and Israel (Spyder). 

• NASAMS-II is a network-centric short to medium-range ground-based air defence system armed with 3-D Sentinel Radars, launchers, short and medium-range missiles which quickly detect and shoot down multiple airborne threats such as cruise missiles, aircraft and drones.

S-400 Triumf

• Overview: A long-range surface-to-air missile system developed by Russia’s Almaz Central Design Bureau (considered way ahead of US developed-THAAD), 
  • S-400 can engage intruding aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. 
• Components: Each S-400 unit has two batteries, each of which has a command-and-control system, a surveillance radar, an engagement radar, and four launch trucks. 
• Missile Types and Capabilities: The system comes equipped with four types of missiles with a range up to 400 km and a flight altitude of 180 km. 
  • It can simultaneously track up to 160 objects in a 600 km range and target 72 objects in a 400 km range.

Iron Dome

• Iron Dome: Developed by Israeli firms (with some US support) is designed to protect against incoming short-range weapons and operates in all weather conditions, having a high success rate of 90%. 
• Target Discrimination Capability: It can differentiate between those rockets that are likely to hit built-up areas and those that are not, interceptor missiles are only fired at rockets expected to strike populated areas. 
• I-DOME: is the truck-mounted mobile version of the system, 
• C-Dome: is the naval version.

RUDRAM Anti-Radiation Missile

• RUDRAM Anti-Radiation Missile: RUDRAM is the first indigenous anti-radiation missile of the country developed by DRDO. 
• Integration with SU-30 MKI Fighter Aircraft: The missile is integrated into SU-30 MKI fighter aircraft (can be adapted for other aircraft), having a variable range. 
• Versatility and Adaptability: It is a potent weapon for IAF for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) effectively from large stand-off ranges. 

Sudarshan Bomb

• Sudarshan Bomb: The LASER-guided bomb was developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE-DRDO) with technological support from the Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE-DRDO) for the Indian Air Force. 
  • Carrying Capacity: Sudarshan has been designed for 450 kg (990 pound) bombs. 
  • Range: Current version has a range of 9 km, and a new version has an expected range of 50 km. 

RaIDer-X

• RaIDer-X: It is a new explosive detection device used to detect a number of explosives in pure form as well as with contaminants developed by High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL-DRDO) and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Conclusion

India’s efforts in ballistic missile defence are advancing steadily with the phased development of its BMD program. 

• With systems like PAD, AAD, and upcoming technologies under Phase 2, the country is enhancing its capability to protect against long-range missile threats. 
• Integration of NASAMS-II and S-400 Triumf further strengthens India’s air defence network, reflecting its commitment to securing its skies and borders from diverse airborne threats.

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