A few days ago Russia issued a NOTAM notice that suggested that it will conduct a test of the Nudol ASAT system on April 15, 2020. And indeed it did. The missile was launched from the Plesetsk test site.
U.S. Space Command issued a statement in which is said that it "is aware and tracking Russia's direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) missile test April 15."
Previous Nudol test appears to have taken place in November 2019.
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What is the current assessment of any possible link/parenthood (or more) between the Nudol ASAT missile and a potential new (or future) exoatmospheric hit-to-kill ABM "a la SM-3" (expected upper layer of the renewed russian BMD)
Besides, is there any indication that the Nudol may, at this time, have been fully flight tested- that is, including terminal guidance against any low orbit target (such as a balloon or whatever minimal (if any) debris-creating target) ?
As far as I can tell, Russia has never tested hit-to-kill missile defense interceptor. It has tested ASAT in the past, but that's quite different.
Thanks.
Do you mean that some previous ASAT tests have included actual hit on a target, thus involving some terminal guidance ?
Other than that, these tests wouldn’t have much technical significance, other than testing a booster and some mid-flight aimpoint update / trajectory correction guidance, which are no big achievements...
There were ASAT tests in the 1970s, but ASAT is different from missile defense. You can approach your target very slowly and still hit it.