India test fired its local-made Akash medium-range surface-to-air defense missile system 13001163

Defence & Security News - India
 
India test fired its local-made Akash medium-range surface-to-air defense missile system.
India on Thursday, January 28, 2016, test fired its indigenously-developed surface-to-air Akash missile as part of a user trial from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur. The missiles, with a strike range of 25 km and capability to carry warhead of 60 kg, were test fired from 11 AM to 2 PM from the launch complex-3 of the ITR.
     
India on Thursday, January 28, 2016, test fired its indigenously-developed surface-to-air Akash missile as part of a user trial from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur. The missiles, with a strike range of 25 km and capability to carry warhead of 60 kg, were test fired from 11 AM to 2 PM from the launch complex-3 of the ITR. Surface-to-air missile Akash takes off from its launcher at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha (April 2014)
     
The Akash is a medium-range surface-to-air defense missile (SAM) system designed and maunfuactured by India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The development of Akash missile system was started in 1983 with a first production in 2002. The first trial firings occurred in 1990 with the tenth stated test in September 1998. The missile system was developed based on the the Soviet 2K12 (NATO Code SA-6 Gainful) surface-to-air missile defense system.

The Akash missile is crucial to India’s air defence programme as it will be used to counter ballistic and cruise missiles, enemy aircraft and air-to-surface missiles. Two versions of the missile are being built for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army (IA).

The missile was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force in July 2015. The Akash surface-to-air missile system has the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles.