India successfully test-fires ballistic missile interceptor

India on Friday test-fired a ballistic missile interceptor in a bid to create a shield against incoming enemy missiles. The missile interceptor was test-fired from a defense base in the country's eastern state Odisha, said Indian defense officials in New Delhi. The indigenous Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile was test-fired from Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast near Dhamra in Bhadrak district. It was fired a few minutes after the target missile was fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in the state's Balasore district, about 70 km from Wheeler Island. According to the defense officials, India is developing the missile interceptors which have been successfully tested several times in the past, to provide air-shield to important Indian cities against hostile attacks.