- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 March, 2019 addressed the nation and announced that Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted an Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) missile test ‘Mission Shakti’ from the Dr AP J Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. With this successful test India became the fourth country after the U.S., Russia and China to have such type of technology. As the Prime Minister said the Mission Shakti is important for two reasons: India is only the 4th country to acquire such a specialised & modern capability and entire effort is indigenous.
#MissionShakti is special for 2 reasons:
(1) India is only the 4th country to acquire such a specialised & modern capability.
(2) Entire effort is indigenous.
India stands tall as a space power!
It will make India stronger, even more secure and will further peace and harmony.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2019
- A DRDO-developed Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Interceptor Missile successfully engaged an Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in a ‘Hit to Kill’ mode. LEO satellites orbit about an altitude of 2,000 kilometres from the earth where majority of satellites are concentrated.
- The interceptor missile was a three-stage missile with two solid rocket boosters. As per the DRDO, tracking data from range sensors has confirmed that the mission met all its objectives.
- The test has demonstrated India’s capability to defend its assets in outer space. It is a vindication of the strength and robust nature of DRDO’s programmes.
- With this India joins a select group of nations, which have such capability. The test has once again proven the capability of indigenous weapon systems.
- Anti-satellite system is not new technology, however India has demonstrated first time. Here is timeline of A-SAT:
- 1985: United States of America used an anti-satellite system to destroy its P-781 satellite that had instruments aboard to study solar radiation.
- 2007: China conducted an anti-satellite missile test on January 11, 2007 and the target was a Chinese weather satellite — the FY-1C – that sailed at an altitude of 865 kilometres (537 mi).
- 2008: USA launched ‘Operation Burnt Frost,’ the code name to intercept and destroy a non-functioning U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellite named USA-193.
