How long does it take for a Pakistani missile to land in an Indian city?
Three minutes from launch for Delhi, a minute more for Mumbai and eight minutes for Bengaluru.
But come 2013, Pakistan army wargamers will have to factor in a whole new Indian Army pre-emptive countermove for the IT hub, for the armed forces are putting together a multi-layered shield that will protect Bengaluru from missile strikes.
Home to multi-billion-dollar IT, space and defence companies, drawing the admiration of the world as a tech hub that pushes the envelope in research and development Bengaluru has excited the envy of China and Pakistan, the latter suspected to be behind the terror bomb blasts that ripped through the city, not once but twice.
The army, wary of the danger posed by Pakistan, is also keenly aware of the perils of not having a missile defence system and the lack of an airbase from which fighter jets could scramble and intercept incoming missiles.
The new multi-layered missile defence system is similar to the ‘Patriot’ anti-ballistic missile defence system of the United States.
The armed forces plan to mount quick-reaction, surface-to-air missiles (SAMS) — the made in India medium range 'Akash' and the deadly short-range Israeli 'Barak'. These missiles would be guided by signals from a satellite and the advanced Green Pine radar of Israel to shoot down incoming missiles 100 km away from here, ministry of defence sources told Deccan Chronicle.
A short range Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile system will be used for low-altitude interception (up to 30 km) of warheads fired as far as 5,000 kilometers away. The Green Pine radar, originally developed for Israel's Arrow anti-ballistic missile system, has been tested at one of the locations where SAM batteries will be positioned.
India’s plans to acquire the entire Israeli Arrow system was thwarted by the United States as it involved American technology and violated the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), sources said.
The tracker
Green Pine is an Israeli ground-based missile-defense radar, to operate mainly with the Arrow system of Israel. Its advanced version, the Super Green Pine, is also to be delivered to South Korea at a cost of $83 million apiece.
Homegrown hero
Akash is a medium range surface-to-air missile defense system. The missile can target aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m. Akash can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms. Akash is said to be capable of both conventional and nuclear warheads, with a payload of 60 kg.
The second line
Barak is an Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to be used as a point-defense missile system on warships, defending against aircraft, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs.