Balasore, Mar 1: Today at 10.15 am the interceptor missile was re-test fired by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island) off Odisha coast. Senior scientists and officials of the Strategic Forces Command were present to witness it. The single-stage solid rocket propelled guided interceptor missile is 7.5 metre tall and equipped with inertial navigation system and electro-mechanical activator under command by the data up-linked from ground-based radar. As the interceptor missile is auto-launched type after receiving commands from the radars on the incoming missile, a Prithvi variant mimicking an enemy missile was fired from Chandipur test range at 10.10 am.
Notably, the interceptor, known as Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile which was test fired in the month of May, 2016 off the Odisha coast was a failure. As of reports, the missile never took off to intercept the modified naval variant of Prithvi missile that was launched from a naval ship and that it simply fell into the sea. Later on November 22, it was retested off the coast of Odisha, which was said to be a success.
