India on Monday test-fired the medium range surface-to-air missile Akash from the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea, 15km from Balasore, defence sources said.

The missile was fired from a mobile launcher at about 1315 IST.

The indigenously developed sophisticated multi-target missile has a range of 25km and is one of the five missiles currently under various stages of development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The 650kg missile has the capability to carry a 50kg payload and uses the integrated two-stage ramjet propulsion technology.

The last trial of Akash was conducted at the ITR on May 29 last.

Defence scientists are also developing the Rajendra radar along with Akash as an air shield system.

With inputs from PTI