Daily News Analysis

India’s Ballistic Missile Defence Program

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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.

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