India to test-fire upgraded missile defence system in Feb

Under the improved system,the DRDO-developed missile shield will intercept missiles at exo-atmospheric altitudes of 150 km and endo-atmospheric height of 80 km,DRDO sources said.

The system is being upgraded after DRDO felt that a capability to intercept enemy projectiles at higher altitudes would give it more response time in case the first attempt is a miss and the second layer of the system can be put into action,they added.

Sources said with India facing a theatre-based threat and not a global one from an Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM),such a capability would also give it an advantage in terms of the area covered by the missile defence system.

The system was first test-fired in November 2006 elevating India into the elite club of four countries to have successfully developed an Anti-ballistic missile system,after United States,Russia and Israel.

Last year,DRDO conducted the fourth in a row successful test of the endo-atmospheric interceptor missile at an altitude of 15 kms.

Sources said if the tests prove successful,the DRDO will go ahead with the deployment of the BMD by 2015.