Second test-fired for the Indian-made Akash surface-to-air missile in less than few days 2502141

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Defence & Security News - India
 
 
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 09:11 AM
 
Second test-fired for the Indian-made Akash surface-to-air missile in less than few days.
For a second time in less than few days, Indian Army successfully test-fired the Indian-made Akash medium range, surface-to-air missile, from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha on Monday, February 24, 2014. The Indian army could decide to commission the missile Akash after the successful firing tests of the last few days. Two regiments of Akash missile systems could enter in service with the Indian Army.
     
For a second time in less than few days, Indian Army successfully test-fired the Indian-made Akash medium range, surface-to-air missile, from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha on Monday, February 24, 2014. The Indian army could decide to commission the missile Akash after the successful firing tests of the last few days. Two regiments of Akash missile systems could enter in service with the Indian Army.
Akash surface-to-air defense missile system during firing test. (Credit photo DRDO)
     

During the firing test, the Akash missile aimed at intercepting a floating object supported by a pilotless target aircraft, flown from launch complex-II, at a definite altitude over the sea. The mission went off fantastically as planned”, said a top Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile defense system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ordnance Factories Board and Bharat Electronics (BEL) in India.

The Akash is a surface-to-air missile designed, developed and produced in India, capable of engaging aerial threats up to a distance of approximately 25 kms. It has a launch weight of 720 kg, a diameter of 35 cm and a length of 5.78 metres. Akash flies at supersonic speed, reaching around Mach 2.5.

The multi target, multi directional, all weather air-defence system consisting of surveillance and tracking radars, control centres and ground support systems mounted on high mobility vehicles for the "Army" version of Akash is designed to enable integration with other air defence command and control networks through secured communication links.

The first test flight of Akash missile was conducted in 1990, with development flights up to March 1997.