Balasore: India on January 18 successfully test fired medium range surface-to-air missile 'Akash' from the interim test range at Chandipur on sea, about 15 kms from Balasore.

The indigenously built sophisticated multi-target missile was test fired from a mobile launcher at about 15:25 hours (IST), defence sources said.

The missile, which has a range of 25 kms, is one of the five missiles under various stages of development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 'Akash', the 650-kg sleek missile, has the capability of carrying a 50-kg payload and uses an integrated two-stage RAMJET propulsion technology.

The missile, which had undergone several flight trials earlier, could be put on ''user's trial'' soon, the sources said.

The DRDO was developing the 'Rajendra' radar and the anti-aircraft missile 'Akash' to build a reliable air defence shield, a defence scientist said.

PTI