India conducts interceptor supersonic missile test

Balasore(Orissa), Dec 6 (UNI) India today carried out air defence exercise(ADE) of an advance high supersonic missile from the Inner Wheeler Island inside the Bay of Bengal close to Dhamra coast.

ITR sources said after an exhaustive preparation following the successful ''dummy'' test on December 2 last,the supersonic missile which has been developed indigenously as part of the endo- atmospheric intercept system''designed to ''hit-to-kill'' incoming ballistic missiles, was test fired from the inner wheeler island.

While one missile of the modified version of Prithvi was fired from Launch Complex-III at ITR,Chandipur as ''attacker'' at 1100 hours to check the air defence capabilities, the high super sonic missile was test fired from the board as ''interceptor'', few seconds later from Launch Complex IV from the Inner Wheeler Island to have an alignment with a pre-designated point.

ITR sources said this was the second test of the ADE of the missile from both the range complex,the earlier being carried out on November 27 last year.The achievement of this exercise would add another feather in the cap of the defence scientists of DRDO.

Senior scientists of the DRDO Air Defence Programme and the Integrated Test Range were present to witness the interception exercise programme at Chandipur and Inner Wheeler island.

Sources said 5807 villagers from at least five villages under two Panchayats such as Jaydevkasaba and Rasalpur were evacuated much before the test fire of the missile.

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