India today successfully conducted trial of an indigenous advanced air defence interceptor missile from Odisha coast off Bay of Bengal. The trial was conducted as part of country's plan to deploy a reliable two-layer ballistic missile Defence, BMD system.

India's indigenously developed surface-to-surface ballistic missile ‘Prithvi’ was engaged as hostile vehicle from launch complex number 3 of Integrated Test Range, ITR in Chandipore of Balasore district in Odisha at 10.13 this morning for the endo-atmospheric test of the interceptor.

The interceptor was fired at 10.16, only three minutes of the 'Prithvi' firing from launch complex number 4 of ITR in Wheeler Island off Odisha coast near Dharma in Bhadrak disrict.

The interceptor successfully hit Prithvi in mid-air over Bay of Bengal. The last interceptor was successfully conducted from the same site on 6th of March last year.