India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has started limited production of the AD-1 missile, a significant step forward for the country's Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Phase-II program.
The AD-1 is a long-range interceptor missile designed to destroy both incoming ballistic missiles and enemy aircraft, strengthening India's ability to defend against aerial threats.
The AD-1 missile is a key component of India's plan to create a multi-layered defence system against a variety of ballistic missile threats. It is designed to intercept targets at a wide range of altitudes, both outside the Earth's atmosphere (exo-atmospheric) and within it (endo-atmospheric).
This is an improvement over earlier interceptors in the Phase-I BMD system, like the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) and Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missiles, which focused on narrower altitude ranges.
The AD-1's versatility allows it to intercept long-range ballistic missiles in their mid-course and terminal phases, as well as engage hostile aircraft, serving a vital theatre air defence function.
The AD-1 uses a two-stage solid rocket motor and incorporates advanced, domestically developed technologies. It features a sophisticated control system, along with advanced navigation and guidance, ensuring high accuracy when targeting. This allows the missile to counter a wide range of threats, from intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) to tactical aircraft, all within a single system.
The initial flight test of the AD-1 took place in November 2022, from Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. The successful test demonstrated the missile's ability to intercept a simulated ballistic missile at high altitude, confirming its propulsion, guidance, and interception systems. Since then, further tests have involved different targets, including simulated enemy aircraft and missiles with varying trajectories and speeds.
The move to limited production will enable the DRDO to carry out more frequent and complex tests, such as firing multiple missiles at once (salvo launches), testing performance in challenging electronic warfare conditions, and engaging targets at different altitudes.
The successful development and deployment of the AD-1 are crucially important for India's national security, especially considering the regional security environment.
Neighboring countries, including China and Pakistan, have advanced ballistic missile capabilities, ranging from short-range to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The AD-1, as part of the Phase-II BMD, will improve India's ability to protect its cities, military bases, and critical infrastructure from these threats.
The AD-1's ability to intercept both ballistic missiles and aircraft significantly enhances India's air defence capabilities. While Phase-I of the BMD system, using PAD and AAD missiles, provided a basic defence against missiles with ranges up to 2,000 km, Phase-II, with the AD-1, is designed to counter longer-range threats (reportedly exceeding 5,000 km) and more advanced missile technologies. According to open-source information from defence analysts, this could include missiles with multiple warheads (MIRVs) or hypersonic glide vehicles.
Furthermore, the AD-1's capability to engage aircraft complements existing Indian surface-to-air missile systems, like the S-400 (acquired from Russia) and the indigenous Akash system. This creates a comprehensive, layered defence network to address a wide range of aerial threats. The Ministry of Defence has emphasized the importance of indigenization in strengthening India's strategic autonomy.
