India test-fires Akash missile

Published December 1, 2004

NEW DELHI, Nov 30: India successfully tested a short-range, surface-to-air missile from a mobile launcher on Tuesday, the second test in four days, a defence ministry official said.

The test of the Akash missile off the eastern seaboard just before noon (1130am PST), came a day after Pakistan tested a nuclear-capable ballistic missile. "We have test-fired the Akash and the missile hit its intended target," the official said, offering no further details.

The missile, which can hit targets up to 25km away and carry a payload of 55kg, was also test-fired on Friday. On Monday, Pakistan tested its surface-to-surface missile Hatf-111 Ghaznavi, which has a range of 290 km.

The Indian official said on Tuesday's Akash test had been planned earlier and was not in response to the launch of the Pakistani missile. -Reuters

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