India tested Ashwin Advanced Air Defence missile 41605163.

The AAD is part of India’s effort to develop a two-layered air defence, to intercept aircraft and ballistic missiles. Ashwin interceptors will provide coverage at low altitudes. They are single-stage, solid propellant missiles, with a height of 7.5m, diametre of 0.5m and a weight of 1.2 tonnes.

Until now, the missiles have been fired both in endo-atmospheric and exo-atmospheric heights, below 40km and above 80km respectively.

Ashwin was fired against a modified Prithvi ballistic missile which was detected by air-defence radars. Data were passed to the launcher. After its firing Ashwin was guided with the use of its INS and land-based guidance systems, and with RF seekers at the terminal phase.