India touts new ballistic missile defense prowess after tests

NEW DELHI — India says recent trials have demonstrated the country’s ability to intercept ballistic missiles, placing it among a select group of countries with advanced capabilities to that effect.In a statement over the weekend, the Ministry of Defense said it conducted three consecutive flight tests on June 10 and 11 to demonstrate “multi-layered defense” against long-range ballistic missile threats and an anti-ship capability at medium range.“The interceptors successfully engaged their respective targets. The systems are designed and developed with latest technologies to address the emerging missile threats,” the statement said.“These tests have put the country in the elite group of nations having BMD (ballistic missile defense) capability to engage up to Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles.”The statement did not specify the range of the targets engaged in the trials, which were carried out from in Chandipur in India’s eastern Orissa state.Currently, only a handful of countries such as the United States, Russia, China and Israel have highly advanced missile defense systems.In a post on X,India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that “Multi-layered BMD capability was successfully demonstrated.”Analysts said the tested technologies could potentially strengthen India’s missile deterrent capabilities as it faces missile threats from its two nuclear-armed neighbors, Pakistan and China -- unresolved border disputes have triggered military tensions with both countries in the past.Pakistan fields a range of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, while China’s far larger and more sophisticated missile arsenal includes intercontinental ballistic missiles.“The systems tested will be part of the country’s ballistic missile defense architecture, although it remains to be seen when they can be operationalized. But India requires a robust missile defense shield because China has a potent intercontinental ballistic missile capacity. We cannot depend on imported systems,”