Defence meet on range technology

More than 300 scientists have gathered in Orissa for a three-day conference to discuss issues related to range technology.

More than 300 scientists have gathered in Orissa for a three-day conference to discuss a host of issues related to range technology.

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The National Conference on Range Technology (NACORT) - 2006 at the integrated test range (ITR) of Chandipur in Balasore, about 150 km from here, comes a day after India on Monday successfully tested a new interceptor rocket - the first step in creating a defence system against incoming ballistic missiles.

"But we will not discuss anything about this interceptor," ITR director and chairman of the organising committee AK Checker said. "However, if President APJ Abdul Kalam (who inaugurates the conference) wants to speak on this, he may."

The conference, organised by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), a federal body credited with numerous developments like India's missile arsenal, aims at harnessing the best manpower related to technology of missile test ranges, Checker said. The meet ends Thursday.

In keeping with the time and evolution of range technology, the conference will emphasise on range instrumentation systems, real time software, safety, communication, target presentation, mission planning and management and a host of features related to test ranges, an organiser said.

It will allow delegates to witness various technologies and exchange technical know-how. It will also provide a platform for the vendors and users to discuss their problems and possible solutions.

The 300 participants include top military scientists from India and some from abroad as well as vendors, said an official.

The new interceptor rocket India tested Monday from Inner Wheeler Island in the coastal district of Bhadrak does not form part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) of the DRDO, defence ministry sources said.

It is believed to have been developed at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory at Hyderabad and has been three years in the making.

It, however, incorporates certain technologies from the five missiles - Prithvi, Agni, Aakash, Nag, and Trishul - being developed under IGMDP.

India on Monday claimed that it had achieved a significant milestone in missile defence system and acquired the capability for air defence against incoming ballistic missile threats with the test of interceptor rocket.