Phase 2 of ballistic missile defence completed, India in elite group with capability to neutralise ICBMs

India successfully completed the final development trials of its multi-layered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Phase 2 system, conducting three consecutive f...

What Happened

India successfully completed the final development trials of its multi-layered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Phase 2 system, conducting three consecutive flight-tests on June 10–11, 2026, from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha.
Both Phase 2 interceptors — the AD-1 and the AD-2 — successfully engaged their designated targets, validating India's capability to neutralise Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)-class threats.
The milestone places India among a handful of nations — the United States, Russia, China, and Israel — possessing a proven multi-layered BMD architecture capable of intercepting ballistic missiles across all flight phases, including the exo-atmospheric (space) domain.
Alongside the BMD tests, the maiden flight-test of the Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Medium Range (NASM-MR) was also conducted successfully, broadening the scope of the demonstration to maritime strike capability.

Static Topic Bridges

Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Systems

A Ballistic Missile Defence system is an integrated network of sensors, command-and-control infrastructure, and interceptor missiles designed to detect, track, and destroy incoming ballistic missiles before they reach their targets. Modern BMD architecture covers multiple interception layers: the boost phase (while the missile is still accelerating), the mid-course phase (in space), and the terminal phase (atmospheric re-entry). India's BMD programme was initiated by DRDO in 1999, driven by Pakistan's nuclear tests and China's advancing strategic missile capabilities.

Phase 1 interceptors: Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) for exo-atmospheric interception and Advanced Air Defence (AAD) for endo-atmospheric interception (below 30 km altitude); these addressed short-to-medium range ballistic missile threats.
Phase 2 interceptors: AD-1 (two-stage solid-fuel endo-atmospheric, intercepts MRBM-class targets with range 1,000–3,000 km) and AD-2 (exo-atmospheric, intercepts IRBM/ICBM-class threats at ranges 3,000–5,500 km and beyond).
Both AD-1 and AD-2 are capable of hypersonic speeds (Mach 6–7), enabling engagement of fast-manoeuvring ballistic targets.
Phase 3 (under development): AD-AH and AD-AM interceptors, designed to counter hypersonic glide vehicles and MIRV (Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle) warheads.

Connection to this news: The completion of Phase 2 trials validates the full multi-layered BMD architecture, with India now able to intercept missiles across endo- and exo-atmospheric regimes up to ICBM range — a capability previously held only by the US, Russia, China, and Israel.

Swordfish Long-Range Tracking Radar

The Swordfish radar is India's primary BMD tracking system, derived from Israel's Green Pine radar (used in the Arrow BMD system). India initially procured the Green Pine-based Swordfish system from Israel in the mid-2000s. DRDO subsequently developed an indigenous Over-the-Horizon (OTH) variant with approximately 80% indigenous content, offering detection ranges of up to 1,500 km — more than double the 600 km range of the Phase 1 radar — enabling earlier threat detection for high-altitude, fast-moving targets.

The Green Pine radar, developed by Israel's ELTA Systems, is a phased-array, L-band radar designed specifically for ballistic missile tracking.
India's indigenous radar upgrade achieved significantly enhanced range and resolution while reducing foreign dependency.
Geographically distributed radar nodes connect via secure networks to command-and-control centres, providing layered coverage across multiple threat corridors.

Connection to this news: The advanced indigenous radar is a critical enabler of Phase 2 BMD, providing the long-range early warning and precise tracking data needed for AD-2's exo-atmospheric intercepts.

ICBM and MIRV Technology

An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) is a long-range ballistic missile with a minimum range of 5,500 km, typically carrying nuclear warheads. ICBMs follow a sub-orbital trajectory, reaching altitudes of 1,000–1,200 km in their mid-course phase, before re-entering the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds. Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology allows a single missile to carry multiple warheads, each capable of striking a different target — dramatically complicating interception. China's DF-41 and DF-5B are MIRV-capable ICBMs with ranges exceeding 12,000 km.

Only five nations have demonstrated confirmed ICBM capability: the US, Russia, China, the UK (via submarine), and France (submarine).
India's BMD Phase 2 is designed to intercept ICBM-class threats including missiles carrying MIRV warheads during their mid-course (space) phase.
Phase 3 will specifically address hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) — a new class of threat that follows non-ballistic, manoeuvring trajectories.

Connection to this news: India's validation of AD-2 against ICBM-class targets signals a strategic deterrence upgrade, particularly relevant given China's continued expansion of its ICBM and MIRV arsenal.

Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Medium Range (NASM-MR)

NASM-MR is an all-weather, indigenously developed anti-ship missile designed for launch from multiple platforms — aircraft (range ~290 km), surface ships (~350 km), and submarines (~100 km). It is part of India's broader effort to develop a layered naval strike capability under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence initiative. The missile incorporates sea-skimming flight at low altitudes, active radar homing, and precision terminal guidance.

Successfully completed its maiden flight-test on June 11, 2026, demonstrating pinpoint navigation, low-altitude sea-skimming, and accurate terminal engagement.
Adds medium-range anti-ship capability to bridge the gap between short-range missiles and the longer-range BrahMos.
Developed primarily at DRDO's Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam.

Connection to this news: The NASM-MR test, conducted alongside the BMD trials, underscores DRDO's simultaneous advances in both defensive (missile shield) and offensive (anti-ship strike) domains.

Key Facts & Data

India's BMD programme was initiated in 1999, following Pakistan's Chagai nuclear tests and China's strategic missile developments.
Phase 2 flight-tests were conducted on June 10–11, 2026, at Chandipur Integrated Test Range (ITR), Odisha.
AD-2 can intercept targets at ranges exceeding 5,000 km — ICBM class — in the exo-atmospheric (space) domain.
The indigenous BMD radar achieves a detection range of 1,500 km, up from 600 km for Phase 1 systems.
Elite BMD nations (proven ICBM interception): United States (GBMD), Russia (A-235 Nudol), China (HQ-19), Israel (Arrow-3) — India now joins this group.
Phase 3 will develop interceptors against hypersonic glide vehicles and MIRV payloads (designated AD-AH and AD-AM).
NASM-MR variants cover air-launched (~290 km), ship-launched (~350 km), and submarine-launched (~100 km) configurations.