BALASORE: Two surface-to-air nuclear-capable Akash missiles were test-fired by the Army from a defence base off the Odisha coast on Tuesday.
The complete Akash missile system, including targets, were operated by the Army personnel to know capabilities of the system in different envelops. The missiles were fired from the launching complex-III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea. On Monday, one Akash missile was test-fired to check the technical parameters set by the user.
The indigenously developed missile was fired a few minutes after a para-barrel was released and Banshee was flown as targets. The missiles successfully hit the para-barrel and the unmanned aerial vehicle.
A defence official said all the mission objectives were met and the missile system had performed as expected. The entire flight of Akash was captured by electro-optical tracking systems.
Sources said it is a notable achievement for the DRDO as the entire equipment of sophisticated radars, control centres, launchers and ground support systems of the missile have been realised and produced.
The two regimens of Akash missile system developed by DRDO had been already inducted into the Army and the system was in continuous production for export. A few more trials are expected on Wednesday and Thursday.
‘Akash’ is India’s first indigenously designed, developed and produced air defence system capable of engaging aerial threats up to a distance of approximately 25 km.
The missile, which has launch weight of 720 kg, length of 5.8 metres and a diameter of 35 cm, can carry a payload of 60 kg. It can fly at supersonic speed of around 2.5 Mach and can reach an altitude of 18 km. The missile can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms.