rediff.com
rediff.com
News
      HOME | NEWS | REPORT
March 5, 2001

NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES
SEARCH REDIFF



Rediff Shopping
Shop & gift from thousands of products!
  Books     Music    
  Apparel   Jewellery
  Flowers   More..     

Safe Shopping

 Search the Internet
         Tips
E-Mail this report to a friend
Print this page

Bad weather stalls final test of Akash

The crucial serial test of India's indigenously-built medium range surface-to-air missile Akash could not be held at Balasore in Orissa because of inclement weather, defence sources said in New Delhi.

The multi-target missile was last test-fired on March 2, from Chandipur-on-sea and was due for its last test before serial production begins. It was put off on Monday following rain in the test range area, the sources said.

The missile, which carries a payload of 55 kg, is due to be inducted into the Army by 2002. Various parameters of the missile are being tested to see its capability.

The theatre defence, surface-to-air missile operates in conjunction with the Rajendra surveillance and engagement radar.

Akash's first flight took place in 1990. It uses an integral ramjet rocket propulsion system to give a low-volume, low-weight (700 kg launch weight) missile configuration, and has a low reaction time -- from detection to missile launch - of 15 seconds.

The missile has a range of 27 km, with an effective ceiling of 15 km. It is capable of detecting and destroying aircraft flying at tree-top height.

UNI

EARLIER REPORT
Akash test-fired for second time in four days: PTI

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report

NEWS | MONEY | SPORTS | MOVIES | CHAT | CRICKET | SEARCH | RAIL/AIR | NEWSLINKS
ASTROLOGY | BROADBAND | CONTESTS | E-CARDS | ROMANCE | WOMEN | WEDDING
SHOPPING | BOOKS | MUSIC | PERSONAL HOMEPAGES | FREE EMAIL| MESSENGER | FEEDBACK