NEW DELHI, Nov 26: India on Friday test fired Akash, the indigenously developed surface-to-air missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea, about 14km from Balasore (Orissa).

The multi-target missile was test fired from a mobile launcher, DRDO sources said, according to a news report received here. Earlier, Lakshya, the Pilotless Target Aircraft, was test flown from the ITR this afternoon and Akash was fired at an object attached to the PTA as its target, added the report.

The missile has a range of 27 km with an effective ceiling of 15 km, the sources said adding, it uses an Integral Ramjet Rocket Propulsion System and has a low reaction time.

The sleek missile, with a 700kg launch weight, could carry a warhead of 60kg. Akash operates in conjunction with Rajendra Surveillance and Engagement Radar being developed by Electronic Research and Development Establishment, maintained the report. -APP