Akash missiles tested again

 Two Akash Surface-to-Air supersonic missiles were fired in quick succession by Indian Air Force personnel to destroy two fast moving Banshee unmanned aerial vehicles at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha, on Friday.

While one missile hit and destroyed the target in a low altitude near boundary mission, the other missile too scored a direct hit and wrecked another fast moving Banshee in a far boundary high altitude exercise.

Friday’s flight trials were preceded by simultaneous launch of two Akash missiles against flying targets on Thursday. The current series of tests, which culminated on Friday, were conducted for acceptance of new production lot of the missiles. In all, nine missiles were tested since November 17 as part of the training exercise for IAF personnel.

Akash medium-range missile test-fired

India on Friday successfully test-fired its Akash medium-range surface-to-air missile from a defence base in Odisha.

The indigenously-developed missile, with a 27 km range and an effective ceiling of 15 km, was test-fired from the Integrated Test Range of Chandipur in the coastal district of Balasore, 230 km from Bhubaneswar.

“It was test fired by the scientists of (state-run missile system manufacturer) Bharat Dynamic Limited and (state run defence electronics company) Bharat Electronics for the armed forces,” test range director M.V.K.V. Prasad told IANS. “The test was successful,” he added.

The 700-kg all-weather missile can carry a 60-kg warhead at speeds of up to Mach 2.5. It can operate autonomously and simultaneously engage and neutralise different aerial targets.

It can be launched from static or mobile platforms, enabling flexible deployment by the armed forces.

Preparation are underway for a few more tests of the missile from the same base within next fortnight, Mr. Prasad said.