The upgraded version of India's domestically-produced high-altitude interceptor missile PDV is now closer to being declared fully fit, as it successfully killed a simulated target from a defence facility off the cost of Odisha on Tuesday. The PDV is designed to destroy missiles at exo-atmospheric altitudes of 50-150 kilometres and be fired from a range of around 2,000 kilometres.
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The interceptor is guided by a high-accuracy Inertial Navigation System (INS) and supported by a Redundant Micro Navigation System (RMNS) which moves towards the estimated point of the interception.
After the missile crosses the atmosphere, the heat shield is ejected and the infrared (IR) seeker dome opens to look at the target location as designated by the mission computer. With the help of inertial guidance and the IR seeker, the missile zeroes in on the target for interception. From detection to interception, the entire exercise is fully automated, with no need for human intervention, according to the DRDO.
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India is the fifth nation in the world to develop a comprehensive Ballistic Missile Defence system. The other countries are the US, Russia, Israel and China.
