Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India shot down a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite, which was a pre-determined target. He said India has become a “space superpower” with the successful testing of anti-satellite weapon.
PM Modi said India is only the fourth nation after the US, Russia and China.
“A short while ago, India has shot down an LEO satellite by anti-satellite missile. It was conducted under Mission Shakti, which was completed in three minutes,” PM Modi said in a special address.
Watch: ‘India now a space power’: PM lauds successful anti-satellite missile test
“India has entered its name as an elite space power. An anti-satellite weapon, A-SAT, successfully targeted a live satellite on a low earth orbit,” the prime minister said in a televised address.
A Low Earth Orbit (LEO) refers to an Earth-centred orbit at an altitude of 2,000 km. A-SAT is a weapon system that is designed to destroy or incapacitate satellites.
PM Modi said Mission Shakti is an important step towards securing India’s safety, economic growth and technological advancement.