PDV (Prithvi Defence Vehicle) and AAD (Advanced Air Defence) are the two principal interceptor missiles of India’s indigenous two-layer Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system, developed by DRDO to detect, track and destroy incoming hostile ballistic missiles at exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric altitudes respectively.[1]
PDV is a two-stage, solid-fuelled exo-atmospheric interceptor designed to engage incoming ballistic missiles above roughly 150 km altitude, using an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker on its kill vehicle for terminal homing via direct kinetic impact (“hit-to-kill”). A more advanced three-stage derivative, PDV Mark-II, stands about 13 m tall and weighs close to 19 tonnes, with two solid-fuel booster stages and a kinetic kill vehicle as the third stage, also using an IIR seeker for exo-atmospheric interception at extended range/altitude compared to the original PDV. PDV succeeded the earlier Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) interceptor as India’s primary exo-atmospheric BMD layer.[1][2]
A modified PDV-family interceptor was used in India’s Mission Shakti anti-satellite (ASAT) test on 27 March 2019, successfully destroying the Microsat-R satellite at an altitude of roughly 300 km in low Earth orbit — making India the fourth country to demonstrate a direct-ascent ASAT capability.[1]
AAD is a single-stage, solid-fuelled endo-atmospheric interceptor designed to destroy hostile ballistic missiles within the lower atmosphere (up to about 30 km altitude) that have leaked through, or were not engaged by, the exo-atmospheric PDV layer — forming the lower tier of India’s layered BMD shield. AAD has a maximum engagement range of roughly 150–200 km and can reach speeds up to Mach 4.5.[2]
PDV and AAD together constitute Phase 1 of India’s Ballistic Missile Defence Programme (IBMDP), rated to intercept missiles of roughly 2,000 km range. DRDO is separately developing a Phase 2 BMD capability intended to intercept missiles out to roughly 5,000 km range, supported by radar systems with detection ranges up to about 1,500 km.[3]
| PDV type | Exo-atmospheric hit-to-kill interceptor (2-stage baseline; 3-stage Mk-II) |
| PDV Mk-II size | ~13 m tall, ~19 tonnes |
| PDV seeker | Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) |
| AAD type | Single-stage, solid-fuel endo-atmospheric interceptor |
| AAD range / altitude | 150–200 km / up to 30 km intercept altitude |
| AAD max speed | ~Mach 4.5 |
| Developer | DRDO (Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme) |
| Notable use | PDV-derived interceptor used in Mission Shakti ASAT test, 27 March 2019 |
| Programme phase | Phase 1 (~2,000 km threat coverage); Phase 2 in development (~5,000 km) |