India test-fires Akash missile

Published January 19th, 2003 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

India on Saturday conducted its second missile test in a period of ten days, launching its most sophisticated surface-to-air missile from a remote range on its eastern coast, according to a news report. 

 

The domestically built Akash missile was test-fired for the second time in three months over the Bay of Bengal from India's testing range at Chandipur, a coastal town in Orissa state, Press Trust of India news agency said.  

 

Chandipur is an estimated 750 miles southeast of New Delhi. 

 

It was a routine test of the missile, which will be used for air defense by the army and the air force, a defense ministry official was quoted as saying, requesting anonymity. 

 

The Akash, (“sky” in Hindi) has a range of 15 miles and can carry a payload of 111 pounds. It is one of five missiles being developed by India's Defense Research and Development Organization. (Albawaba.com) 

© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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