India on Saturday successfully test-fired the medium range surface-to-air missile Akash from the interim test range at Chandipur-on-sea, some 15km from Balasore in Orissa.

The indigenously built sophisticated multi-target missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher at about 1525 IST,
defence sources said.

The missile, with a range of 25km, is one of five under various stages of development with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Akash, weighing 650kg, uses the integrated two-stage RAMJET propulsion technology to carry a maximum 50kg payload.

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

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

More reports from Orissa