Interceptor missile successfully test-fired

Interceptor missile successfully test-fired

Question: The Wheeler Island in Bhadrak district of Odisha has been renamed as …
(a) Abdul Kalam Island
(b) Nagarjun Island
(c) Bhaskaracharya Island
(d) None of the above.
Ans: (a)

  • On 11th February, 2017, India successfully test-fired its interceptor missile off the Odisha coast from Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island) at about 7.45 AM.
  • It is a significant milestone in the direction of developing a two-layered Ballistic Missile Defence system.
  • This mission termed as “PDV mission is for engaging the targets in the exo-atmosphere region at an altitude above 50 km of earth’s atmosphere. Both, the PDV interceptor and the two stage target missile, were successfully engaged.
  • The target was developed for mimicking a hostile Ballistic Missile approaching from more than 2000 km away was launched from a ship anchored in the Bay of Bengal.
  • In an automated operation, radar based detection and tracking system detected and tracked the enemy’s ballistic missile.
  • The computer network with the help of data received from radars predicted the trajectory of the incoming Ballistic Missile.
  • PDV took-off once the computer system gave the necessary command for lift-off. The Interceptor guided by high accuracy Inertial Navigation System and supported by a Redundant Micro Navigation System moved towards the estimated point of the interception.

Reference:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Interceptor-missile-successfully-test-fired/article17287777.ece
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/odisha-government-renames-wheeler-island-as-abdul-kalam-island/1/465811.html