India test fires Akash missile again

Tuesday, 10 June 2003, 19:30 IST
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BHUBANESWAR: India Tuesday once again successfully test fired its medium range surface-to-air missile Akash. The missile was fired at 11.40 a.m. from a mobile launcher at the integrated test range in Chandipur in Orissa's Balasore district, 230 km from here, defence sources said. The 650-kg missile has a range of 25 km. It has the capability to strike several targets simultaneously. Akash can carry a 50-kg payload and is part of the country's integrated guided missile development programme (IGMDP) that was initiated in 1983 by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who is now the president. India plans to use Akash as part of an air defence system currently being developed to counter threats posed by enemy aircraft and missiles. Some reports have suggested it could be used in conjunction with the S-300 air defence system that Russia has offered to sell to India. The missile was earlier test fired on May 30 and June 2. Akash was first test fired on July 5, 2000.
Source: IANS