This places India among an elite group of nations (United States, Russia, China, and Israel) with advanced BMD capabilities including defence against Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).

• India also carried out Flight-test of the Naval Anti-Ship Missile-Medium Range (NASM-MR) successfully. 

About Ballistic Missile Defence Programme

• Definition: A BMD system is an advanced network of radars, command centers, and interceptor missiles designed to detect, track, and destroy incoming ballistic missiles. 
• Launch: Initiated in 1999 by DRDO in response to Pakistan nuclear tests and China's assertiveness.
• Two-tier Defence:
  • Endo-atmospheric interception: Within Earth's atmosphere.
  • Exo-atmospheric interception: Outside Earth's atmosphere.
• Three Phases:
  • Phase-I: Includes Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV), Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptors to counter short- and medium-range ballistic missiles (Range of 2000 kms).
  • Phase-II: Features AD-1 and AD-2 interceptors (Range of 5000 kms).
    • AD-1 is a long-range interceptor missile designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception.
    • AD-2 missile is meant to intercept intermediate-range ballistic missile (3000-5500 km). 

• Phase-III: Developing AD-AH and AD-AM interceptors.

• AD-AH (Anti-Hypersonic): Hypersonic glide vehicle, which travels above Mach 5 and changes trajectory mid-flight to dodge interception.
• AD-AM (Anti-Missile): Missile carrying Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs), where a single launch releases several nuclear warheads, each programmed to strike a separate target.

• Key Components: Interceptor missiles, Swordfish radar, Launch Control Centres (LCC), Mission Control Centre (MCC), and secure communication networks.