(a) whether the U.S. has successfully test fired the
National Missile Defence System on July 14, 2001;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether India is concerned with this test or system
in any way;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) the likely impact of this test fire on the
international politics or defence system;
(f) whether India has conducted any study in this
regard; and
(g) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI OMAR ABDULLAH)
(a) & (b) The US conducted an anti-missile test on July
14, 2001. An inter-continental ballistic missile with a
dummy warhead and one decoy was launched from the
Vandenburg Air-Force Base in the US. A ground-launched
interceptor missile was then fired from a US test range
in the Marshall Islands. Using hit-to-kill technology,
this interceptor missile successfully rammed into the
incoming missile and destroyed it.
(c) to (g) This test forms part of a series of tests
planned by the United States which will have a bearing on
the projects that may be taken up in connection with the
missile defence proposal. As regards the impact of the
US plans for a missile defence system, consultations and
dialogues have been under way between the United States
and concerned States including Russia. A special envoy
of the US President had also visited India in May this
year for such consultations.
The precise details about the proposed system have
still not been spelt out.