India has successfully conducted a maiden flight trial of a sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile off the coast of Odisha.
With this, India joins a select group of countries, including the United States, Russia, Israel, and China that have fully operational BMD systems.The missile test was conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy on Friday.
"The purpose of the trial was to engage and neutralise a hostile ballistic missile threat thereby elevating India into the elite club of nations having Naval BMD capability," the Ministry of Defence said on Saturday.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, Indian Navy and industry involved in the successful demonstration of ship-based ballistic missile defence (BMD) capabilities.
Prior to this, DRDO successfully demonstrated a land-based BMD system with the capability to neutralise ballistic missile threats, emerging from adversaries.
(With inputs from PTI)
