DRDO successful flight-tests New Generation Akash missile

Hyderabad: The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on 23 July successfully flight-tested New Generation Akash (Akash-NG) missile, a surface to air missile, from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

Defense minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO on the second successful flight test of Akash-NG in three days. He said the development of this state-of-the-art missile system will prove to be a force multiplier for air defence capabilities of the Indian Air Force.

The test was carried out against a high-speed unmanned aerial target which was successfully intercepted by the missile. The flight test has validated the functioning of a complete weapon system consisting of the missile with indigenously developed RF seeker, launcher, multi-function radar, and command, control and communication system, the DRDO said in a press release. The test was carried out amidst inclement weather conditions proving the all-weather capability of the weapon system.

It further said that the system performance was validated through the data captured by a number of radar, telemetry and electro-optical tracking systems deployed by ITR, Chandipur.

DRDO chairman Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy congratulated the teams for the successful trial of Akash NG which is capable of intercepting high-speed and agile aerial threats. On 21 July, the missile was successfully flight-tested without seeker meeting all the mission requirements.