Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India had established itself as an elite space power after it successfully tested an anti-satellite missile on Wednesday.
The A-SAT successfully targeted a live Satellite on a low earth orbit, the Prime Minister said as he congratulated the DRDO for the achievement.
The Election Commission later sought details as the announcement was made at a time when the Model Code of Conduct is in force ahead of general polls starting next month. "India's scientists have successfully hit a target in space with an Anti-satellite missile.
Till now, only the United States, Russia, and China had this honour, Modi said.
The operation, called 'Mission Shakti', was successfully carried out in just three minutes.
Modi also said this was a rare achievement.
On March 27, 2019, India conducted Mission Shakti, an anti-satellite missile test, from the Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Island launch complex. This was a technological mission carried out by DRDO. The satellite used in the mission was one of India's existing satellites operating in lower orbit.
"It shows the remarkable dexterity of India's outstanding scientists and the success of our space programme," he said.
He said that India's mission is not directed against any other country. 'Mission Shakti' is an important step towards strengthening India's security, Modi said.
The prime minister further said that today, India has enough satellites that were contributing to various sectors such as agriculture, disaster management, communication, weather, and navigation among others.
"The target was a live satellite which was flying in a low earth orbit. The missile travelled a distance of almost 300 km from earth and hit the target within three minutes of its launch," PM Modi said in a rarely televised declaration of new military capability.
Modi tweeted about the upcoming "important message" an hour before his televised address, leading to intense speculation in the media.
The last time Modi had suddenly addressed the nation was in November 2016 when he announced the ban on 500 and 1000 rupee notes called demonetization, plunging the country's monetary system into chaos for months.
India goes to polls on April 11 in elections that will last a month across this vast nation before the results are declared on May 23.
