DRDO Successfully Conducts Flight Test of New Generation AKASH Missile In Odisha

DRDO carried out a flight test of the New Generation AKASH (AKASH-NG) missile at Chandipur, Odisha at 10:30 AM on Friday.

The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on Friday successfully conducted a flight test of the New Generation AKASH (AKASH-NG) missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), at Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

The test was conducted at 10.30 AM against a high-speed unmanned aerial target at a very low altitude. The weapon system succeeded in intercepting and destroying the target during the flight test.

The success of the test has validated the functioning of the entire weapon system which consists of a missile equipped with a locally built RF Seeker, Launcher, Control and Communication System, Multi-Function Radar and Command. 

Its system performance was also substantiated through the data captured by numerous Radars, Telemetry and Electro-Optical Tracking System positioned by ITR, Chandipur.

Senior Officials from DRDO, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), and Indian Air Force(IAF) representatives were present at the location to witness the flight test.

Post the successful flight test of AKASH-NG, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, complimented DRDO, the Indian Air Force, PSUs, and defence equipment component manufacturing industry for it.  He said that the successful development of the system will contribute towards the improvement of the air defence capabilities of India.

Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, also congratulated the teams involved in the successful flight test of AKASH-NG. 

AKASH-NG is a state-of-the-art missile system designed to easily intercept high-speed, agile aerial threats. The successful flight test conducted on Friday will lead the way for further user trials, he said. 

DRDO had previously carried out a successful flight trial of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator which was an indigenous high-speed flying-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) from Chitradurga's Aeronautical Test Range. This placed India in the elite club of countries that have mastered the controls for flying wing technology in tailless configuration.