Date:14/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/14/stories/2007121461191800.htm

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Drill on Akash missiles begins

T.S. Subramanian

CHENNAI: A 10-day campaign that will involve the launching of several surface-to-air Akash missiles in field trials meant for the Indian Air Force (IAF) began at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near Balasore on the Orissa coast on Thursday with the firing of an Akash from a mobile launcher.

The eventual user of the missile, the Indian Air Force (IAF), conducted the drill including the firing of the missile.

Prahlada, Chief Controller, R&D, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO),who was present at the launch at the ITR at Chandipur, said the entire Akash system including missiles, radars, launchers and support systems would be used during the ten-day campaign. A series of flight trials of Akash would be done during this period as part of an understanding between the DRDO and the IAF.

“At the end of the ten-day campaign, we will assess how everything went. Evaluation of Akash during this field trial for the user is a very complex process,” said Mr. Prahlada from Chandipur.

Another DRDO official said the entire flight of Akash on Thursday was captured by electro-optical tracking systems. “The entire track was excellent,” he added. The target was Lakshaya, a pilotless target aircraft.

Akash is a medium-range surface-to-air missile and it can reach targets 25 km away. It is 5.6 metres long. It is essentially an anti-aircraft weapon.

It can handle multiple targets with the help of a digitally coded command and guidance system. It is fuelled by solid propellants. It can be fired from tracked vehicles.