Wheeler Island, Orissa: Indian defence scientists have successfully carried out the second launch of a single stage interceptor missile against an incoming 'enemy' ballistic missile, represented by a modified Prithvi missile at the Wheeler Island, in the Bay of Bengal, close to the Dhamra coast in Orissa.

The endo-atmospheric interceptor missile engaged the enemy missile at an altitude of 15 km exactly as designed at high supersonic speeds at 11 this morning.

According to a government press release, all the elements of a ballistic missile defence system, such as a long range tracking radar, multi-function fire control radar, mission control centre, launch control centre, mobile launcher, mobile and multi layer communication system, data links to the interceptor participated in the mission.

The statement said that the interceptor and all the elements performed in a copybook fashion validating the design of the endo-atmospheric layer of the BMD system.

The defence minister AK Antony has congratulated the DRDO team led by Dr VK Saraswat for this significant accomplishment.