The test fire of India's new Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile from the Orissa coast on Monday failed to materialise as the target deviated from its path and plunged into the sea.
The target, a Prithvi missile, fired at 10:02 am from a mobile launcher from the Integrated Test Range Complex-3 at Chandipur-on-Sea, 15 km from Balasore, deviated from its trajectory after travelling about 11 km and fell into the sea, defence sources said.
As a result, the hypersonic interceptor missile, being developed to destroy hostile incoming ballistic missiles, did not get the required command for take off from Wheeler Island, about 70 km across the sea from Chandipur, they said.
The AAD missile was to intercept the target at an altitude of 15 to 20 km over the sea.