December 03, 2007 (DefenceIndia News Service)

In a boost to its Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system, India will conduct a user's trial of a new interceptor missile next week, that can "kill" a hostile missile in the mid-air.

According to the defence sources, the first user's trial of the Axo and Pad interceptor missile is likely to be conducted within a week over Bay of Bengal in the Orissa coast.

The Indian army along with scientists of the Defence research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will conduct the test and hectic preparations are on in the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur and Wheeler's Island, they said.

Prior to the user's test, DRDO scientists will conduct a dummy trial engaging the interceptor missile from a launch pad aimed at an "electric dummy bogey target".

During the user's trial, a modified surface-to-surface Prithvi-II will be used as target missile and the newly developed Axo and Pad interceptor missile will be engaged to "kill" it in the mid air.

The first test of such a supersonic missile, labeled as Axo (or atmospheric intercept system) which can "kill" an incoming "hostile" ballistic missile thousands.