India developing ballistic missile defence regime
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk Report

NEW DELHI (India): India is developing its own "effective" ballistic missile defence system on the basis of Prithvi missile and the Greenpine Radar, acquired from Israel.

The DRDO will attempt to integrate this system into an "effective" missile defence within a five-to-seven years span, said a news report carried by leading Indian daily "The Hindustan Times" quoting highly placed sources.

"India has set out to configure its own ballistic missile defence on the basis of Prithvi missile and the Israeli Greenpine radar" added the report.

India was earlier considering an Israeli Arrow-based missile defence cover for the purpose, the report maintained.

Head of DRDO's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, V K Saraswat confirmed the existence of the ballistic missile defence programme without divulging the details of the configuration.

The Intentions

"The system is intended to provide an area missile defence cover in a radius of over 200 km", he added.

India has already acquired Greenpine radars from Israel. The range of the Prithvi short-range ballistic missile, he said was being enhanced to 350 km.

There would be no more developmental test-firings of the 700 km Angi-I and 2500 km Agni-II missiles, he disclosed.●