Context: Recently ,Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful maiden flight-test of Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) interceptor.

About AD-1 missile

• The AD-1 (Air Defence) is a long-range interceptor missile designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception of long-range ballistic missiles as well as aircraft. 

• Purpose: The missile is capable of striking down incoming adversary missiles and aircraft.

• It has been developed under the Phase II of the Ballistic Missile Defence programme.

• Features: It is propelled by a two-stage solid motor and equipped with an indigenously-developed advanced control system, navigation and guidance algorithm to precisely guide the vehicle to the target.

• Relevance: It is a unique type of interceptor with advanced technologies available with a very few nations in the world and it will further strengthen the country’s BMD capability to the next level.

About Ballistic Missile Defence(BMD) programme

• A ballistic missile is a type of missile that fires warheads at a target by moving the projectile. The majority of the flight is unpowered, so these weapons are only guided for short periods.

• India’s Ballistic Missile Defence(BMD) program is said to have been started by the DRDO around the 2000s in view of the development of ballistic assets by Pakistan and China. 

• The phase-I of the programme is said to have been completed towards the end of the 2010s and consisted of the advanced air defence systems and air defence systems based on the Prithvi missile.

• The second phase focuses on the development of anti-ballistic defence systems like the US’s Theatre High-Altitude Area Defence system which can neutralise intermediate-range ballistic missiles.