India's indigenously built medium range surface-to-air missile Akash was test fired from a range in Orissa state Saturday. Three missiles were fired from mobile launchers at targets supported by pilotless target aircraft, defence sources said. Akash, part of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, has a range of 27 kilometres and a ceiling of 15 kilometres. It weighs 650 kilos and is capable of carrying a 50 kilo payload. The missile was successfully test fired from mobile launchers on February 21 and 24. It was put through a successful trial in November 2004 carrying a live warhead for the first time.
