India test fires Akash missile in Odisha

BALASORE (ODISHA): India test-fired the indigenously developed surface-to-air Akash missile from the Integrated Test Range complex at Chandipur near Balasore in Odisha, with the results being analysed.

"Akash was test fired from launch complex-3 ot ITR at about 2.45 pm," defence sources said about the missile with a strike range of 25 km with the ability to carry a warhead of 60 kg.

The missile targeted a toe body supported by Pilotless Target Aircraft 'Lakshya', they said.

"During the trial, the missile aimed at intercepting a toe body supported by a PTA flown a couple of minutes earlier from launch complex-II, at a definite altitude over the sea. The results are being analysed," the sources said.

Some more trials would be held over the next couple of days, they said.

Akash was a medium range surface-to-air anti-aircraft defence system and had the capability to target aircraft up to 30 km away and a battery that could attack several targets simultaneously.

With the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles, defence experts compared Akash to the American MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system.

It was developed by the DRDO as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

While the Air Force version was inducted, the Army version was in the final stage of induction.

The missile was last test fired from the same base on February 24 this year.