♤ While Agni-V can destroy targets more than 5,000 km away, it can easily be further enhanced to become an Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).

61. BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE (BMD)

♤ The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme is an initiative to develop and deploy a multi-layered ballistic missile defence system to protect India from ballistic missile attacks.

♤ India's missile defence system is set to get a big boost as it is developing capability to intercept enemy missiles fired from a distance of up to 5,000 km, in effect tackling any possible threat from countries such as China.

♤ It is a double-tiered system consisting of two interceptor missiles, namely the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile for high altitude interception, and the Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Missile for lower altitude interception.

♤ The capability is being developed by DRDO as part of the Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) shield, whose first phase is ready for deployment possibly in Delhi.

♤ Development of the first phase of the BMD programme has been completed. Under this, the BMD shield can tackle enemy missiles fired at from ranges up to 2,000 km.

♤ The DRDO is enhancing the capability of BMD in phase-II to deal with threat from missiles of longer range of up to 5,000 km.

♤ Why in News: India is hurrying up the deployment of an advanced missile defence system to stave off threats from ballistic missiles at a time China’s arsenal is growing in sophistication and numbers.