Indigenously-developed surface-to air 'Akash' missile was successfully test fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from Balasore in Odisha coast on Thursday. The user-specific trial, which formed part of the country's routine air defence exercises, was conducted to re-validate the technology and operational efficacy of the missile.

The missile, which has a strike range of 25 km with a warhead of 60 kgs, was test fired from a mobile launcher from launch complex-III of the ITR at about 11.08 Thursday morning. The missile was aimed at intercepting a floating object during the trial and supported by a pilotless target aircraft, flown from launch complex-II, at a definite altitude over the sea. Akash, an anti-aircraft defence system, can simultaneously engage several targets with 'Rajendra' radar developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment a DRDO laboratory in Bangalore.

Rajendra does the surveillance, tracks the target, acquires it and guides the missile towards it. The development of Akash missile took place during 1990s under the country's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme and after many trials, it was inducted into the armed forces. An air-force version of the Akash missile has also been developed by the DRDO.