Missile Defence shield to be tested in November

Plans are afoot to test India's missile defence shield in November, V K Saraswat, leading scientist at Defence Research and Development Organisation, said on Friday.

"We are planning to test the missile defence shield in November. This time the configuration will be different. We will be approaching a higher altitude kill compared to last time's kill at 48 km," Saraswat who is the chief controller of research and development, DRDO told reporters on Friday on the sidelines of a seminar organised on the topic `IT in Defence.'

There were also plans to enter the flight trial stage late next year for 'A-5,' the long range missile. It will be at a higher range than the Agni III, he said. Refusing to divulge the range of the missile, he said, "It was commensurate in keeping with threat to the region."

Replying to a question on Astra missile, the indigenously built air-to-air beyond visual range missile, he said that the missile was under completion and between September 10-15 there were plans to have a "launch window for guided flights."

On the issue of the indigenously developed surface-to-air Akash missile, he said production of the Akash missile had commenced with the Indian Airforce placing orders for it. The naval Long Range Sam (LR-SAM) is expected to enter its flight trial phase probably next year, he said.