India tests indigenous interceptor missile

A mock and solo test fire of the indigenously developed unnamed interceptor missile was conducted over the Bay of Bengal on Sunday prior to the user's trial.

The interceptor, akin to India's guided missile Prithvi, was test fired from a mobile launcher at 10.44 am from the integrated test range (ITR) launch pad at Wheeler's Island, about 70 nautical miles from Balasore in Orissa, defence sources said.

The interceptor missile, labelled in Defence Research Development Organisation only as Axo (atmospheric intercept system), has its own mobile launcher, secured data link for interception, independent tracking and homing capability, and its own radar, sources said.

The data of today's mock trial would be analysed and final trial of two missiles -- one target and another interceptor launched from two different locations --is likely to be taken up towards the end of this week, they added.

A similar successful trial was conducted on December 27 last year. As a precautionary measure, the district administration of Bhadrak had alerted fishermen not to venture into the sea during the time of the test-fire.