[sestomosi]

US may push SM-3 IIA interceptor to India. The SM-3 IIA is being co-developed with Japan. “That is an important potential area for our future cooperation. . . . BMD has great strategic importance and, therefore, the two governments should discuss that strategically before they discuss that technically,” said U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter during a trip to India in July.

SM-3 (Blocks IA, IB and IIA) are meant for short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in the midcourse phase of flight. DRDO made system AAd is comparable to the U.S. Patriot, a terminal area-defense system. However, it might conflict with the DRDO's plan for two new antiballistic missiles to intercept ICBMs at a range of 5,000 km by 2016.