The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) tested a new version of the Akash Missile — ‘Akash Prime’ — from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha on Monday afternoon.
The missile intercepted and destroyed an unmanned aerial target mimicking an enemy aircraft in its maiden flight test after improvements, a statement by the DRDO read
#WATCH | A new version of Akash Missile – ‘Akash Prime’ successfully tested from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha today. It intercepted & destroyed an unmanned aerial target mimicking enemy aircrafts, in its maiden flight test after improvements
Video source: DRDO pic.twitter.com/Mx1RPBIKla
— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2021
In comparison with the existing Akash System, Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active RF (radio frequency) seeker for improved accuracy. Other improvements also ensure more reliable performance under low temperature environments, at higher altitudes.
The modified ground system of the existing Akash weapon has been used for the current flight test. The range stations of the ITR, comprising of Radars, EOTS (Electro Optical Tracking System) and Telemetry stations, monitored the missile trajectory and flight parameters.
Hailing the DRDO, the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, the Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) for the successful trials of Akash Prime Missile, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the successful flight test proved the competence of DRDO in the design and development of world class Missile systems.
G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO also congratulated the team for the successful flight trial of the Akash Prime Missile.
He said that the Akash Prime system will further boost the confidence of the users (Indian Army and Indian Air Force) as the Akash system is already inducted and now being improved with more lethal missiles.
