Indian Navy & DRDO Achieve Milestone in BMD Capability with Sea

Image: Twitter/@indiannavy (Representative)

In a significant development in India's defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy had conducted the successful maiden flight trial of a sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile in the Bay of Bengal region on April 21, 2023.

The purpose of this trial was to engage and neutralise a hostile ballistic missile threat, thereby propelling India into the elite club of nations possessing Naval Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capability.

Prior to this milestone, DRDO had already demonstrated its prowess with a land-based BMD system, effectively neutralising ballistic missile threats from adversaries.

At the heart of this achievement lies INS Anvesh, formerly known as the DRDO Technology Demonstration Vessel. This state-of-the-art missile range instrumentation ship was meticulously designed by the DRDO and constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) to serve as a critical sea-based platform for India's ballistic missile defence programme.

The conceptualisation and design of the vessel were undertaken by Vik-Sandvik Design India Pvt Ltd, as reported by Naval News.

The commissioning of INS Anvesh (A41) on March 11, 2022, took place in a secretive ceremony. The ship was specifically designed to pave the way for future naval BMD capabilities and played a pivotal role in the Phase-II BMD trials. To effectively support Phase-II BMD trials, INS Anvesh is equipped with essential features, including roll damping tanks, a missile integration and checkout bay, a data processing room, and a mission control centre.

Additionally, four ship launch systems, a 15-ton crane, and an A-frame for cargo handling are positioned aft on the vessel. The ship launch systems, designed by Electro-Pneumatics & Hydraulics, ensure smooth acceptance, secure transport, and vertical launching of the missile from the checkout bay.

Phase-II of India's BMD program focuses on the development of two atmospheric interceptors, the AD-1 endo-atmospheric interceptor and the AD-2 exo-atmospheric interceptor. The successful maiden flight trial of AD-1 on November 2, 2022, marked a significant advancement in India's BMD capabilities.

As the development of AD-1 progresses, this missile will also undergo testing and deployment from naval platforms.

In a collaborative effort, the Indian Navy's missile tracking, and surveillance vessel INS Dhruv also actively participated in the trial. This joint endeavour showcased the navy's commitment to enhancing its capabilities in tracking and intercepting hostile ballistic missiles.

INS Anvesh's significance extends beyond BMD missiles, as the vessel is equipped to test a range of crucial components, including radars, sonars, telemetry equipment, and propulsion systems.

As the Indian Navy's first medium voltage Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) vessel, INS Anvesh boasts an impressive total output of 14 MW, generated by diesel generators that power steerable contra-rotating propulsion thrusters.

Further fortifying India's naval prowess, DRDO's S-band Ship-Borne Radar (SBR) is set to replace the IAI Elta EL/M-2248 MF-STAR as the Indian Navy's primary radar. As part of this enhancement, Astra Microwave Products Ltd is building the Active Antenna Array Unit (AAAU) for the SBR. Upon completion, the SBR will be tested onboard INS Anvesh, boosting the navy's ability to track ballistic missiles and bolstering the future surface combatants' capabilities to thwart endo-atmospheric ballistic targets.

The successful sea-based interceptor trial and the integration of advanced systems onboard INS Anvesh demonstrate India's continued dedication to fortifying its defence capabilities. These advancements pave the way for enhanced security and further solidify India's position as a formidable force in the global defence arena.