India tests interceptor missile

[Naveed Yaseen]

BHUBANESWAR (March 07 2009): India staged a missile intercept test Friday as part of a plan to build a defence system against incoming ballistic missiles by 2010, officials said. Military engineers said the test was a success as a "hostile" missile was destroyed in mid-air over the Bay of Bengal off Indias eastern Orissa state.

Fridays test was the third successful trial since 2007 of an air defence system capable of detecting, intercepting and destroying medium- and long-range ballistic missiles, officials said in Orissa capital Bhubaneswar. The shield will be capable of high-speed interceptions of missiles launched 5,000 kilometres (3,000 miles) away, they added. On Wednesday, India also test-fired a supersonic cruise missile it has jointly developed with Russia since 2001. The latest test near rival Pakistans borders involved a modified BrahMos with a range of 290 kilometres.

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