It’s a surface-to-air missile that’s been built to intercept and counter ballistic missiles, so it’s a missile for missile defense.
This phrase can also refer to a ballistic missile-defeating antimissile system. ABM refers to missiles or systems that are meant to fight intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).
India has also developed and launched an Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Programme (IBMDP) to develop a multi-layered ballistic missile defense system to protect the nation from ballistic missile outbreaks.
It is a double-tiered system that includes land and sea-based interceptor missiles; the PADE (Prithvi Air Defence Exercise) in which a Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile for high altitude interception and the Advanced Air Defiance (AAD) Missile for lower or minor altitude interception.
This system is designed to intercept missiles launched from a distance of up to 5,000 kilometres. It also has a radar network for early warning and tracking, as well as command and control posts.
The PAD was verified for its impact, accuracy & range in November 2006 and the Advanced Air Defense (AAD) was tested in December 2007. After verifying & testing the PAD, India became the 4th country in world to have successfully in advanced of anti-ballistic missile system after the US, Russia and Israel.
Some Current Counter-ICBM systems/ABM
The Russian A-35 Anti-Ballistic Missile System.
The U.S. Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD).
Arrow-3 Missile Defense System
Japan : Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) with the US