India's new Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile, capable of destroying hostile missiles, today encountered coordination problem and failed to take off during a planned launch from the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island off Orissa coast. <br/><br/>Defence sources said in New Delhi,coordinated exercise between target missile Prithvi from Chandipur and the indigenously built interceptor from Wheeler Island could not take place properly during the planned trial .<br/><br/>Though the exact reason behind interceptor missile's failure to take off is yet to be ascertained, preliminary analysis suggested that the target missile might have deviated from its stipulated trajectory, leading to lack of proper coordination. <br/><br/>The trial, aimed at developing a multi-layer Ballistic Missile Defence system, was originally scheduled to be held yesterday from the two different sites of the ITR but had to be put off due to some technical snag in a sub-system at Wheeler Island.Wheeler's Island is located about 70 km across the sea from Chandipur and the AAD missile was to intercept the target at an altitude of 15 to 20 km over the sea.<br/>
News On AIR | March 15, 2010 2:15 PM
Interceptor missile fails to take off