India tested a new
version of the Akash Missile — ‘Akash Prime’ — from the Integrated Test Range
at Chandipur in Odisha on Monday. The missile successfully intercepted and
destroyed an unmanned aerial target posing as an enemy aircraft in its first
flight test. Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency
seeker for improved accuracy, according to a Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) release.

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In the video, the
Akash Prime Missile can be seen launching into sky from the ground. The missile
successfully detonates on impact with an unmanned aerial target after cruising
in the sky for a few seconds.

The Akash Prime
has undergone several improvements over the Akash Missile to ensure a more
reliable performance at low temperatures in high altitudes. The ground system
of the existing missile has been improved upon. The range stations at the test
site including radars, Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) and telemetry
stations monitored the missile trajectory and flight parameters.    

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Following the successful
trials, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, the Indian Air
Force, Indian Army, the Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) and industry.
Rajnath Singh said that the successful flight test proves the DRDO’s competence
in design and development of world-class Missile systems.

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DRDO Chairman D
Sateesh Reddy said that the Akash Prime system will boost the confidence of the
Indian defence forces.

The Indian Army
and Air Force will have much greater confidence in the Akash Prime system
because the Akash system has already been inducted and is now being enhanced
with more powerful missiles, the DRDO chairman said.

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Earlier, the DRDO
chairman said that the organisation has come up with ‘technology development
funding’ that is meant to help young graduates with good ideas join incubation
centres to take their idea and convert them into a design and a product.