New Delhi: ‘Akash Prime’, a new version of the Akash Missile, was successfully tested from the Integrated Test Range at Odisha’s Chandipur on Monday evening.
The missile intercepted and destroyed an unmanned aerial target mimicking enemy aircraft, in its first flight test after improvements.
According to an official, ‘in comparison to the existing Akash system, Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active RF seeker for improved accuracy. Other improvements also ensure more reliable performance under a low-temperature environment at higher altitudes.’
The flight test has validated the functioning of complete weapon system consisting of the missile with indigenously developed RF Seeker, Launcher, Multi-Function Radar and Command, Control and Communication system, it said, adding that the test was carried out amidst bad weather conditions, ‘proving the all-weather capability of the weapon system’.
The system performance was validated through the data captured by a number of Radar, Telemetry and Electro Optical Tracking systems deployed by ITR, Chandipur, the DRDO said. A team of Indian Air Force Officers witnessed the test.