Akash missile was successfully testfired recently in very low altitude near boundary mission from the integrated test range at Balasore, Odisha. This flight trial was last among the validation trials being carried out by Army on the first off production models of Akash supersonic missile.

The supersonic missile intercepted a very small unmanned fast moving Banshee aerial vehicle at 30-metre altitude above sea level proving the system capability against subsonic cruise missile.

The sophisticated multi-function radar with built in features tracked the low flying target continuously throughout its course. Special algorithms/techniques developed by DRDO for overcoming the multiple target reflections coming from the sea worked perfectly in the mission.

With this flight trial, the Indian Army accomplishes all the validation trials on the first off production models and the system is being delivered for induction.

Avinash Chander, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Director General, DRDO, said, “While indigenous development, production and induction of Akash is making very significant contribution to India’s selfreliance in air defence technologies, Akash also has great export potential”.

The trials were supervised by G. Chandramouli, Project Director Akash, and witnessed by Director General Army Air Defence and other senior officials of Army and the Ministry of Defence.