E-Paper
India successfully test-fires Akash missile
The 650 kg missile has the capacity to carry a 50 kg payload and uses the integrated two-stage ramjet propulsion technology.
The surface-to-air missile Akash was successfully test-fired on Saturday from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur on sea, about 15 km from Balasore.
The indigenously-built multi-target, medium-range missile -- having a range of 25 km -- is one of the five missiles currently under various stages of development by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO).
The missile was test-fired at 1230 hours, ITR sources said.
The 650 kg missile has the capacity to carry a 50 kg payload and uses the integrated two-stage ramjet propulsion technology.
Akash, having undergone several flight tests earlier, is understood to be close to the user's trial stage.
ITR sources said prior to the test-fire of the missile, Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) was test flown from the ITR and the object dropped from the unmanned vehicle was targeted by the Akash missile.
