India test-fires nuclear-capable missile

On the heels of conducting trials of interceptor missiles, India on Thursday revived its surface-to-air nuclear-capable Akash missile programme by carrying out its fresh test firing near Balasore in Orissa.

The multi-target missile with a strike range of 25 km and capable of carrying a nuclear warhead of 50 kg was test fired from a mobile launcher, defence sources said.

The missile targeted a flying object using Pilotless Target Aircraft Lakshya as support system, they said, adding that the PTA was flown at 1136 hours and Akash missile test-fired at around 11.55 am from the ITR.

For the next ten days, a series of test firings of the missile will be carried out to pave the way for its induction into the Indian Air Force.

IAF had not been satisfied by performance of the missile in earlier test firings and this had led to government clearing a deal to procure ground-to-air missiles from Israel.

The trial was carried out to fine-tune the sophisticated missile, though Akash has undergone several tests earlier as part of the country's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, sources said.

The Defence Research and Development Laboratory at Hyderabad, the nodal agency which designed the missile, has also approved its 'flight consistency,' they said.

The 5.6-metre-long missile weighing about 700 kg uses an integral Ramjet rocket propulsion system and has a low reaction time.

The Akash missile operates in conjunction with the indigenously built Rajendra surveillance and the engagement radar being developed by Hyderabad-based Electronic Research and Development Establishment, sources said.

The radar is capable of tracking 64 targets and guide up to 12 missiles simultaneously.

Comparable to the US-made Patriot, the Akash missile has better features and it is completely mobile with capability to be launched from a battle tank too, they said.

During its entire flight, the thrust is maintained and the propulsion works till the missile hits the target. Akash was initially designed as an anti-aircraft missile, but scientists from Defence Research and Development Organisation were presently working to re-configure it as an anti-missile missile, sources said.