The successful flight test of the Akash-NG missile has paved the way for user trials
In yet another boost to India's indigenous defence capabilities, the New Generation Akash (Akash-NG) missile was successfully flight-tested on January 12, 2024.
 
The Akash-NG is a state-of-the-art missile system capable of intercepting high speed, agile aerial threats. The successful flight test has paved the way for user trials, the Ministry of Defence said as it made the announcement. 
 
The test was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. 
 
According to the Ministry of Defence, the flight-test was conducted against a high-speed unmanned aerial target at very low altitude. During the flight-test, the target was successfully intercepted by the weapon system and destroyed. 
 
"It has validated the functioning of the complete weapon system consisting of the missile with indigenously developed Radio Frequency Seeker, Launcher, Multi-Function Radar and Command, Control & Communication system," the Ministry of Defence said.
 
The system performance was also validated through the data captured by a number of Radars, Telemetry and Electro Optical Tracking System deployed by ITR, Chandipur. The flight-test was witnessed by senior officials from DRDO, Indian Air Force (IAF), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). 
 
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented the DRDO, IAF, PSUs and the industry for the flight-test. The successful development of the system will further enhance the air defence capabilities of the country, he said. Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Samir V Kamat also congratulated the teams associated with the successful flight test of Akash-NG.