India on Saturday successfully test fired the indigenously developed surface-to-air nuclear capable 'Akash' missile, for the third consecutive day, from Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea, about 15 km from Balasore.
The multi-target medium range missile with a strike range of 25 kms and capable of carrying a warhead of 50 kg was test fired at 1510 hours from a mobile launcher as part of an air defence exercise, defence sources said.
The missile targeted a flying "para barrel" target released from an aircraft, they said, adding three more trials were expected to be conducted in about a week to pave the way for induction of Akash into the Indian Air Force.
After successful trials of interceptor missiles, the test-fire was carried out to fine-tune the sophisticated Akash, which has undergone several tests earlier as part of the country's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
The 700 kg and 5.6-metre-long missile uses an integral "Ramjet" rocket propulsion system and has a low reaction time, they said, adding some IAF officials were also present during the test-fire.
Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory, the nodal agency which has designed the missile, has already approved the "flight consistency" of Akash, they said.
Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory, the nodal agency which has designed the missile, has already approved the "flight consistency" of Akash, they said.
As part of the exercise, two rounds of trials of Akash had earlier been carried out - one on December 13 and another on Friday.