Republic Day celebrations: DRDO showcases A-SAT weapon system

NEW DELHI:The DRDO Anti-Satellite Weapon System (A-SAT) was on display at Rajpath during the Republic Day parade on Sunday.

As space becomes a vital dimension of any country's economic and military superiority, A-SAT (anti-satellite) weapons play a vital role in providing the necessary strategic deterrence.

In March last year, the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) launched 'Mission Shakti', India's first A-SAT mission and demonstrated its anti-satellite technology.

A satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) was destroyed in “Hit to Kill” mode with a precision of 10 centimeters, with the satellite and missile approaching each other at a high speed of almost 11 km per second.

The secret “hit-to-kill” technology, first developed by India for such applications, allows it to destroy an enemy satellite by directly hitting it with pinpoint precision. This successful demonstration put India on par with the elite club of three nations – the United States, Russia and China – that possess this capability.