India successfully tests antiballistic interceptor missile

27 April 2014, 12:07 -- The Organization of Defense Research and Development of the Indian Defense Ministry has successfully tested a new extraterrestrial interceptor missile, the Press Trust of India news agency reports.

This missile is a modification of the 'Prithvi' missile. It can destroy enemy missiles within the radius of up to 2,000 kms. However, Indian engineers are planning to create an even better modification of it with the hitting range of 5,000 kms.

The missile was launched from the Wheeler Island, which is located near the coast of the Odisha State in India's east, at 9:00 a.m. local time.

The Press Trust of India news agency reports that the test engineers are fully satisfied with the test's results.

Earlier, India has already held 6 successful tests of interceptor missiles, both within the Earth's atmosphere and outside it – namely, at the heights of 30, 50 and 80 kms above the sea level. A source in the Indian Defense Ministry says that the next similar test will be held at the height of more than 100 kms.

India test fires nuclear capable Prithvi-II ballistic missile

India has test fired its surface-to-surface nuclear capable single-stage liquid-fuelled shorter range missile Prithvi-II in what proved the fifth test of that missile in the past six months, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

The missile was fired from a mobile launcher in the Chandipur rocket launching station in the state of Odisha (former Orissa) to the maximum range of 350 kilometres.

The ballistic missile Prithvi is capable of carrying a warhead, including a nuclear warhead, of up to one ton. The missile was manufactured as part of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Program, launched in 1983.

The missile was last successfully test fired in October 2013.

Source: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_27/India-successfully- tests-antiballistic-interceptor-missile-9786/