New Akash missile successfully hits aerial target

New Delhi: India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested ‘Akash Prime’, a new version of the Akash missile, at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha at 4:30 pm on Monday.

According to the organization’s official statement, the test was conducted against a high-speed drone target, which was successfully intercepted by the new Akash missile.

“The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today successfully conducted the maiden flight test of Akash Prime missile at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha,” DRDO tweeted on Monday.

The flight test used a modified ground system of the existing Akash weapon system. The ITR range station consists of radar, EOTS and telemetry stations to monitor the missile trajectory and flight parameters.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and industry for the successful test-firing of the Akash Prime missile. He further said that the conduct of the test-firing was a testament to the DRDO’s capabilities in “designing and developing world-class missile systems”.

Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary of DRDO and Chairman of DRDO, also congratulated the team for the successful test-firing of Akash Prime missile. He said that with the improvement of Akash missile, it will become more lethal and will also boost the confidence of the armed forces.