South Asia News
India test fires surface-to-air missile - correction
Dec 7, 2005, 16:54 GMT
New Delhi - India test-fired an advanced version of its air-defence Akash surface-to-air ballistic missile from a military range in the eastern state of Orissa Wednesday, defence officials said.
The missile was fired at a moving target attached to a pilotless aircraft from a mobile launcher.
Akash, Hindi for sky, has a range of 25 kilometres and can carry a 50-kilogram payload. It was last tested on December 3.
The missile, which has often been compared to the United States-made Patriot, is being developed for the Indian army and air force. It is part of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
Akash uses a ramjet propulsion system. Its surveillance radar, also developed indigenously, can simultaneously keep track of 64 aerial targets in a range of 40-60 kilometres.
Defence officials described Wednesday's test as 'routine.' The missile has been repeatedly tested in recent months. There were three launches within a span of 17 minutes on September 28.
© dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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