DRDO successfully test-fires new-generation Akash surface-to-air missile

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday successfully flight-tested an indigenously developed low-weight, fire-and-forget Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM). The missile is being seen as one which will give a major push to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, and strengthen the Indian Army.

The test was conducted from a test range off the Odisha coast on Wednesday. According to the defence ministry, the test was conducted at around 12:45 pm from a land-based platform. The ministry claims that the new version of the Akash missile (Akash-NG) can strike targets at a distance of around 60 km and fly at a speed of up to Mach 2.5. The research and development agency said that the missile is incorporated with state-of-the-art miniaturised infrared imaging seeker, along with advanced avionics. ​”The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the new generation Akash Missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the coast of Odisha on July 21,” the ministry said. “The flight trial was conducted at around 12:45 PM from a land-based platform with all weapon system elements such as multifunction adar, command, control and communication system and launcher participating in the deployment configuration,” it added in a statement.