India’s Ballistic Missile Defence Program

Recent Developments

• Successful Flight-Test:
• DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) recently conducted a successful flight-test of the Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) System.
• The test involved the Phase-II Air Defence (AD) Endo-atmospheric missile, which was launched from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur.
• The missile was launched following the detection of a target missile by weapon system radars positioned on land and sea.

About Phase-II Air Defence Endo-atmospheric Missile

• Indigenous Development:
• This is an indigenously developed 2-stage solid-propellant ground-launched missile system.
• Functionality:
• Designed to neutralize enemy ballistic missile threats within the altitude bracket of endo- (within Earth's atmosphere) to low exo-atmospheric regions.
• Capabilities:
• Demonstrates India’s ability to defend against ballistic missiles with a range of up to 5000 km.

Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Systems Overview

• Objective:
• BMD systems are designed to protect against aerial attacks such as drones, fighter jets, and ballistic and cruise missiles.
• They achieve this by launching interceptors that aim to destroy incoming missiles upon impact.
• Key Components:
• Detection and Tracking:
• Radar systems and other sensors detect and track incoming missiles.
• Interceptors:
• Missiles launched to intercept and destroy the incoming threats.

Examples of Global Missile Defence Systems

• THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) - USA:
• Designed to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles during their terminal phase.
• Effective against short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
• Iron Dome - Israel:
• A mobile all-weather air defence system designed to intercept and destroy short-range threats such as rockets and artillery shells.
• Patriot Missile System - USA:
• Primarily designed for air and missile defense, including the interception of tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft.

Key Features of India's Ballistic Missile Defence Program

• Phased Approach:
• The BMD program is structured in phases, with Phase-I focusing on short-range ballistic missiles and Phase-II extending to medium-range and higher altitude threats.
• Indigenous Capability:
• Emphasis on developing and integrating indigenous technologies to enhance self-reliance in national defense.
• Strategic Importance:
• Enhancing defense capabilities against potential missile threats from neighboring countries, ensuring national security and deterrence.

Cruise Missiles vs. Ballistic Missiles

Cruise Missiles:

• Flight Path:
• Trajectory: Cruise missiles travel within the Earth's atmosphere along a relatively level, straight-line trajectory. They are designed to fly at consistent altitudes and can follow a predefined path, often utilizing waypoints.
• Speed: They typically travel at subsonic or supersonic speeds.
• Guidance Systems:
• Navigation: Cruise missiles use a combination of guidance systems, including GPS, inertial navigation systems (INS), and terrain-following radar. They can be reprogrammed mid-flight for course corrections.
• Accuracy: They are highly accurate, capable of hitting specific targets with precision.
• Range and Payload:
• Range: Cruise missiles can have varying ranges, from a few hundred to over a thousand kilometers, depending on the model.
• Payload: They can carry a variety of warheads, including conventional explosives, nuclear, or chemical payloads.
• Deployment:
• Launch Platforms: They can be launched from a variety of platforms, including ships, submarines, aircraft, and ground-based launchers.

Ballistic Missiles:

• Flight Path:
• Trajectory: Ballistic missiles follow a high-arc trajectory that takes them out of the atmosphere and back in. They are launched into a ballistic trajectory and follow a parabolic path, spending most of their flight time in space.
• Speed: They travel at very high speeds, including supersonic and hypersonic speeds during re-entry.
• Guidance Systems:
• Navigation: They have initial guidance to ensure they are directed toward the general target area but rely less on mid-flight course corrections compared to cruise missiles. Modern ballistic missiles can have advanced guidance systems to improve accuracy during re-entry.
• Accuracy: They can be less accurate than cruise missiles but modern systems have improved precision, especially with the development of Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs) and guidance systems.
• Range and Payload:
• Range: Ballistic missiles can have very long ranges, from a few hundred kilometers to over 5,000 kilometers, depending on the type (short-range, medium-range, intermediate-range, or intercontinental).
• Payload: They can carry large payloads, including nuclear warheads, conventional explosives, or chemical weapons.
• Deployment:
• Launch Platforms: Typically launched from ground-based silos, mobile launchers, submarines, or aircraft.

Comparison

• Flight Dynamics:
• Cruise missiles operate within the atmosphere and are designed for precision strikes at specific targets. Ballistic missiles are launched into space and re-enter the atmosphere, following a high-arc trajectory and are typically used for long-range strikes.
• Use Cases:
• Cruise Missiles: Ideal for precision strikes against high-value or well-defended targets. They are often used for tactical strikes where accuracy is critical.
• Ballistic Missiles: Suited for strategic deterrence and large-scale attacks, often with the capability to carry nuclear warheads. They are used for long-range engagements where the goal is to overwhelm defenses.
• Defense Against:
• Cruise Missiles: Can be intercepted by systems designed for low-altitude, high-speed targets, such as the Iron Dome or Patriot missile systems.
• Ballistic Missiles: Typically intercepted by systems designed for high-altitude, high-speed threats, such as THAAD or Aegis BMD.

Evolution of India’s Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Program

Background and Initiation:

• Sanctioned in 2000: India’s BMD program was initiated in response to the growing security threats from neighboring countries, particularly China and Pakistan, and the increasing nuclearization of the subcontinent.

Development Phases:

• Phase-I (2000s):
• Objective: Designed to intercept ballistic missiles with a range of up to 2000 km.
• Components:
• Prithvi Air Defence (PAD): Aimed at intercepting incoming missiles at exo-atmospheric altitudes.
• Ashwin Advanced Air Defence (AAD): Designed for endo-atmospheric interception.
• Swordfish Radar: A long-range tracking radar developed for the BMD system.
• Status: Successfully tested and deployed, providing India with a foundational capability to intercept short to medium-range ballistic missiles.
• Phase-II (2010s onwards):
• Objective: Designed to intercept ballistic missiles with a range of up to 5000 km.
• Components:
• AD-1 Missile: A long-range interceptor capable of both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception. It can target long-range ballistic missiles as well as aircraft.
• AD-2 Missile: Aimed at intercepting intermediate-range ballistic missiles with a range between 3000-5500 km.
• Recent Developments: The successful flight tests of these systems have demonstrated India's capability to defend against long-range ballistic missile threats.

Significance of the BMD Program:

• Strategic:
• Autonomy: Enhances India's strategic autonomy and reduces reliance on foreign defense systems, crucial for national security in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Regional Influence: A robust BMD system influences regional power dynamics, affecting adversaries' perceptions and strategic calculations.
• Security:
• Nuclear Deterrence: Helps counter nuclear coercion while maintaining India's no-first-use nuclear policy.
• Defense Against Non-State Actors: Provides protection against potential threats from both state and non-state actors in South Asia.
• Technological:
• Advancements: Promotes advancements in radars, tracking systems, and dual-use technologies like telecommunications and aerospace.
• Diplomatic:
• International Relations: Affects India’s relationships with major powers like the US and Russia and plays a role in global non-proliferation efforts.

Challenges and Concerns:

• Arms Race: The development of BMD systems could trigger an arms race, prompting adversaries to develop counter-technologies, thus impacting strategic stability.
• Cost and Resources: High costs associated with research, development, and deployment pose a challenge. Securing adequate funding is critical given the lack of economies of scale.
• Inter-operability and Evolution:
• Integration: Ensuring smooth integration with existing military infrastructure is essential for effective BMD operations.
• Evolving Threats: The BMD system needs to evolve to address the advanced and unpredictable missile capabilities of potential adversaries.

Conclusion:

India’s BMD program, along with projects like ‘Project Kusha’ (aiming to detect and neutralize various aerial threats), represents a significant step in enhancing the country’s defense capabilities. It marks a new phase in India’s defense modernization efforts, contributing to a more robust deterrence posture and improved protection against potential threats.