New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are working on a proposal to get government nod for installation of missile shield for the national capital with the completion of India’s indigenous Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) programme.
The BMD, along with the Russian S-400 Triumf air defence system, aims to secure the country from all kinds of incoming missiles, including nuclear, and flying objects.
“The BMD programme has been completed. All tests carried so far have been successful, including the radars and missiles. The IAF, which is responsible for the country’s air defence, and the DRDO, which has developed the system, will now move a joint proposal for the government’s clearance,” highly placed sources said without delving into further details about the project.
The BMD programme got a major boost with the successful test of the anti-satellite (A-SAT) missile last March which also marked India’s leap in space.
The A-SAT test is especially significant because inter-continental ballistic missiles like China’s Dongfeng series travel through space before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere to hit the target.
Asked whether the Ministry of Defence would be the nodal authority for approving the installation of the missile shield, the sources said it comes directly under the Prime Minister’s Office.
Once the permission is granted, it will take three to four years to put the shield in place because production of the required systems would take time.
India’s BMD programme was launched in 1999 after Pakistan’s maiden nuclear test in 1998 and China’s leap in this sphere.
