IAF successfully test fires Akash missile twice

Bhubaneswar: The Indian Air Force Friday successfully conducted two tests of country's indigenously developed medium-range surface-to-air Akash missile from a defence base in Odisha, an official said.The missile, which has a range of 27 km and an effective ceiling of 15 km, was test-fired from the Integrated Test Range of Chandipur in the coastal district of Balasore, around 230 km from Bhubaneswar, as part of the production trials.[caption id="attachment_329411" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="The Akash missile. Reuters"][/caption]"The air force personnel launched and witnessed the mission. Both the tests were successful" said test range director MVKV Prasad.Another test of theAkash missile is likely to take place from the same defence base early next week, he added.The 720 kg Akash carries a 55 kg payload. It can fly at a speed of up to Mach 2.5, operate autonomously and simultaneously engage and neutralise different aerial targets.It can be launched from static or mobile platforms to provide for flexible deployment.The missile had been successfully test fired from the same base a number of times last month.IANS