Overview
- DRDO conducted three consecutive flight tests on June 10 and 11 that the ministry said successfully engaged and destroyed designated ballistic-missile targets.
- The tests validated a multi-layer Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) architecture, meaning interceptors can operate at endo‑atmospheric (within the air) and exo‑atmospheric (above the air) altitudes to give multiple chances to stop an incoming missile.
- Officials told reporters that two interceptor missiles tested are intended to counter intermediate‑range threats of about 2,000–5,000 km, and the ministry said the system can engage threats up to the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) class.
- DRDO also carried out the maiden flight of the Naval Anti‑Ship Missile–Medium Range (NASM‑MR), which demonstrated sea‑skimming navigation and terminal accuracy for medium‑range maritime strikes.
- The government said Phase II of the BMD programme is complete, Phase III has begun to address hypersonic and MIRV threats, and the next steps are user trials, deployment‑readiness work, and scaling of production—moves that could change force posture and procurement for the armed services.