By IANS
New Delhi : The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile Friday hit the bull’s eye for the fifth time in a row, destroying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) stimulating an air attack at a defence test range in Orissa.
The fifth and last trial successfully took place at 2.15 p.m. at Chandipur-on-sea, with the missile destroying the UAV.
“The target vanished from the radar screen when the missile was guided precisely in close proximity and the warhead blast occurred, much to the delight of users present during the test,” a defence ministry release said.
“This was the grand finale of the 10-day users’ campaign meticulously planned by the Indian Air Force (IAF), the release added.
“With the conclusion of the Akash evaluation, the missile is now available for indigenous production in the country,” the release said, adding: “The missile system is uniquely configured and customised for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.”
Akash is a mobile, multiple-target handling, medium-range air defence missile developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
“The missile system has been configured to be part of futuristic network centric operations. The entire weapon system has gone through functional evaluation in Kolar near Bangalore followed by operation and mobility trials in (Rajasthan’s) Pokharan ranges,” the release said.
The ECCM (electronic counter-counter measure) evaluation was carried out at the Gwalior air force base against various types of electronic targets and counter-measures.
The final phase of user evaluation, as part of user trials, was done in Chandipur.