India starts work on Phase-II of missile defence system news

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New Delhi: India has begun work on Phase-II of its missile defence (MD) system which will allow it to intercept enemy missiles at distances of 5,000 km, much before they can enter Indian air space. Phase-I of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) MD system has already tested interceptors that can knock-out incoming threats at ranges of 2,000 kms.

According to the scientific advisor to the minister for defence and DRDO chief, Dr VK Saraswat, the 5,000km range interceptors should be deployed around 2016.

"It is well on schedule and we are already on initial design and testing stage," Dr Saraswat said.

"Presently, our missiles are designed to engage targets within 2,000 km range. Later on, we will be making 5,000 km range class of interceptor missiles. That will be Phase-II of the MD system," he said.

DRDO has successfully tested Phase-I of the indigenously developed interceptor missiles last July.

Commenting on the possibility of collaboration with the United States or any other country for development of MD systems, Dr Saraswat said, "Our process of international collaboration is only to accelerate our own development process. Whenever we feel the need of a new technology, we may go for collaborations."

As for the much vaunted Aegis missile defence systems, he said, "These are market forces and will always remain there. There would always be market forces trying to sell the available equipment. In India this is not just a R&D effort but an actual programme, so I don't think we should worry about this."

In tandem with its missile defence system India is also developing the Long Range Tracking Radar (LRTR) a critical part of the system. While India used Israeli Green Pine radar technology for the Phase-I part of the missile defence programme, Phase-II of the programme will have radars with 80% indigenous component.

"Only some of the equipment and consultancy would be provided by Israel," Saraswat said.