New Delhi: India has strengthened its strategic defence capabilities after the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted three consecutive flight-tests on Saturday showcasing advanced missile defence and maritime strike technologies.
The trials, carried out on Wednesday and Thursday, demonstrated a multi-layered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system as well as the maiden flight-test of the Naval Anti-Ship Missile-Medium Range (NASM-MR), marking a significant milestone in India’s indigenous defence programme.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the BMD trials validated the country’s ability to counter long-range ballistic missile threats. “The interceptors successfully engaged their respective targets,” the ministry said, adding that the systems have been “designed and developed with latest technologies to address the emerging missile threats.”
The ministry said the successful demonstrations have significantly enhanced India’s strategic deterrence capability. “These tests have put the country in the elite group of nations having BMD capability to engage up to intercontinental ballistic missiles.”
In a separate achievement, DRDO successfully carried out the maiden flight-test of the NASMMR (naval anti-ship missile-medium range) – a weapon designed to strengthen maritime strike capabilities and enhance operational flexibility for the armed forces.
The flight-tests were witnessed by senior officials from DRDO and the defence forces.
The defence minister, Rajnath Singh, congratulated DRDO and associated teams in a post on X, saying the organisation had “successfully demonstrated multiple crucial technologies bolstering nation’s defence capabilities against different types of enemy threats.”
Referring to the missile defence trials, Singh said, “Three consecutive flight-tests were successfully conducted to demonstrate multi-layered defence against long range ballistic missiles and Anti-ship capability at medium range.”