On 27 March 2019, India tested an anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) during an operation code named Mission Shakti (IAST: Śakti; lit.

The ASAT test utilized a modified anti-ballistic missile interceptor code-named Prithvi Defence Vehicle Mark-II which was developed under Project XSV-1.

India's successful demonstration of the ASAT capability is said to signify its ability to intercept an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

The exo-atmospheric interceptors meant to be used against ICBMs, which have lofted trajectories and fly at high altitudes, can also be used to intercept satellites.

[3] In response to threats posed by missile systems from China and Pakistan, India began to work on its BMD program in 1999.

On 18 March 2008, DRDO Director-General and Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister V. K. Saraswat hinted that India possessed technology required for an ASAT missile.

[8] In April 2012, DRDO's chairman V. K. Saraswat said that India possessed the critical technologies for an ASAT weapon from radars and interceptors developed for Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme.

The interceptor was launched at around 05:40 UTC at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Abdul Kalam Island and hit its target after 168 seconds.

[20][2] With this test, India became the fourth nation after United States, Russia and China with proven anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities.

[26][27][28] DRDO Chief G. Satheesh Reddy said that although some previously developed sub-technologies were used as a basis, the interceptor was a completely new missile.

However, in order to minimize the threat of debris, the interception was performed against an object moving at 7.4 km/s (4.6 mi/s) at an altitude below 300 km (190 mi).

[27] DRDO Chief G. Satheesh Reddy said that the propulsive power of the interceptor missile can be increased to make it capable of targeting satellites at medium altitudes.

[25] According to DRDO Chief G. Satheesh Reddy, the interceptor missile is capable of shooting down all the satellites present in low Earth orbit.

[32] PDV MkII uses a new generation of composite propellant that High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) started working on during the development phase of K Missile family.

[39][22] According to Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, some debris might persist for a year, but most should burn up in the atmosphere within several weeks.

[40] Brian Weeden of Secure World Foundation agreed, but warned about the possibility of some fragments getting boosted to higher orbits.

[42] A Dutch Space Situational Awareness consultant Marco Langbroek disputed DRDO's claim that the test was responsible.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that it has noticed reports about the test and was hopeful that all countries will uphold peace and tranquility in outer space.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that boasting of such capabilities is useless, invoking the English idiom Tilting at Windmills.

[58] Jim Bridenstine, the head of NASA, called the Indian ASAT test a "terrible thing", pointing out that debris from the explosion endangers other satellites and the International Space Station (ISS).