Akash missile test successful again

India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme crossed a major milestone with the eleventh testflight of the Akash medium-range surface-to-air missile.

A defence ministry spokesman said the test was conducted at the Interim Test Range at Chandipur, Orissa. The main mission objectives -- performance evaluation, with the command guidance sub-system being activated onboard the missile in conjunction with its trajectory and guidance by the ground-based indigenous Rajendra phased array radar-- he said, were successfully met.

This is a unique design feature in the Akash weapon system and the hardware incorporates state-of-the-art technology. Other objectives were related to the advanced booster and ''Ramjet'' propulsion used in the missile system which has a range of 25 km.

The range instrumentation also performed satisfactorily and the quick-look analysis of telemetry and tracking data have indicated that the main and secondary mission objectives have been fully met.

Developmental flight trials of Akash were successfully completed last year. Desert trials of the Akash self-propelled launcher have also been successfully completed.

The indigenous third-generation anti-tank missile Nag was successfully tested last week.

Both Akash and Nag are expected to be ready next year.

UNI

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