India Tests Medium-Range Surface-To-Air Missile

MISSILE NEWS

File photo of a test fire of an Akash SAM from a specially modified BMP-1 IFV chassis.

Bhubaneswar, India (AFP) Feb 21, 2005
India successfully test-fired a medium range surface-to-air missile Monday from a range on an island off the coast of the eastern state of Orissa, defence sources said.

The homegrown missile named Akash - sky in Hindi - was fired from a mobile launcher Monday afternoon at the the Chandipur-on-Sea testing site, 200 kilometres (125 miles) northeast of Bhubaneswar, Orissa's state capital.

It successfully hit a pilotless target aircraft, a defence source said.

The 700-kilogram (1,540-pound) Akash can carry a 70 kilogram warhead and is designed to travel 27 kilometres (17 miles).

On November 30, 2004, the same missile was tested with a live warhead.

Akash is one of five missiles being developed by India's state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan frequently test-fire missiles they are developing for military purposes.

In 1999, a year after the two sides tested nuclear weapons, they agreed to notify each other ahead of missile tests.

In a meeting last week in Islamabad, the foreign ministers of the two countries agreed to upgrade the missile test understanding to a formal agreement.

MISSILE NEWS

Expected Patriot Sale Panics Pakistan

Washington DC (UPI) Feb 21, 2005
Pakistan is expected to take up with the U.S. administration the expected sale of Patriot missile defense system to India, diplomatic sources told United Press International Monday.

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