NEWDELHI (PTI): India’s multi Target surface-to-air missile Akash Was successfully test fired by the scientists of the defence Research and development organization (DRDO) at Chandipur in Coastal Orissa on Feb.3 a delayed report said.
A defence ministry announcement on Friday described the test firing of the missile with range of25 kilometers as a technological breakthrough.
The missile uses the integrated Two-stage rocket Ramjet propulsion thus allowing India entry into a select group of three nations _ United States Russia and France _ possessing such a technology.
This was the first successful test firing of the 650kg missile. Akash which has a Rajindra phased alloy warhead capable of multi tar-
I get capability has a built in radar The missile DRDO sources said had multiple warheads which could target four to five enemy aircraft at long range.
The defence ministry announces Ment said that more than 100 parameters of the missile were monitored in Might after the test firing from the interim test range at Chandipur.
Apart from propulsion parameters the measures and predicted Range values were in close agreement the announcement added.
The DRDO sources said that while a normal rocket had an inbuilt oxygen (Oxidizer) supply the Ramjet rocket which propels the kash missile draws air during flight from combustion in conjunction with a fuel rich repellent.
The integrated rocket (booster) Ramjet Sustainer technology has weight and range advantage over conventional missile system the DRDO sources said.
Another surface to air missile the Trishul missile system which the DRDO has manufactured has already been inducted into the Indian air force and army. The DRDO is now working on developing a beyond visual range airs to-air missile which has beer christened as Astra This is the second major success achieved by the DRDO within 3 week. Just recently the DRDO had successfully conducted four flight tests of the third generation nag anti-tank missile.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 11, 1994
