Akash missile test-fire successful

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Baleswar, Apr 26:

The indigenously developed surface-to-air supersonic Akash missile underwent two rounds of successful trial from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha’s Baleswar district today.

Picture Courtesy: hindu.com
Picture Courtesy: hindu.com

“The missile was test fired twice in quick succession at about 11.55am and 12pm,” defence sources said.

The whole exercise was carried out as part of a user trial by the Indian Air Force (IAF), ITR Director MKV Prasad said.

Each missile targeted a toe body supported by Pilot Less Target Aircraft (PTA) Lakshya.

“During the trial, each missile aimed at intercepting a toe body supported by a PTA flown a couple of minutes earlier from another launch complex, at a definite altitude over the sea,” sources said.

While the Air-force version of the missile has already been inducted, the Army version is in the final stage of induction into the armed forces.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, Akash has a strike range of 25 km and can carry a warhead of 60 kgs.

It has the capability to target aircraft up to 30 km away and is packed with a battery that can track and attack several targets simultaneously.

Defence experts have compared Akash to the MIM-104 Patriot missile system of USA.

Also Read

Comments are closed.