India successfully
tested Surface-to-air Akash missile
BALASORE,
ODISHA: India test fired successfully its indigenously-developed surface-to-
air Akash missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, about 15 km from
Balasore on 26th May 2012. India boosting its air defence shield and
revalidating operational efficiency.
The
missile, which has a strike range of 25 km with a warhead of 60 kgs, was test
fired from a mobile launcher from launch complex-III of the ITR at about 1108
hours, defence sources said.
"The
user-specific trial, which formed part of the country's routine air defence
exercises, was successful," said a Defence Research Development Organization
(DRDO) official associated with the Akash missile project.
To
revalidate the technology and operational efficacy of the missile, defence
forces conducted the trial with logistic support provided by the ITR, the
official said. The Akash weapon system was inducted into the armed forces in
2008.
Defence
experts have compared Akash missile system with the American MIM-104 Patriot
surface-to-air missile system.
