Two medium-range surface-to-air missiles  'Akash' were successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea, about 15 km from Balasore.

According to ITR sources, the missile, considered one of the major milestones in the country's integrated guided missile development programme, was test-fired twice in between 1345 and 1400 hours.

This would be the fourth time during the last one week the missile was test-fired from the ITR.

Earlier, it was successfully test-fired consecutively for three days from the Test Range from December 13 to 15.

The missile hit an object in mid air, dropped by Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA), earlier test flown from the ITR.

Scientists of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and ITR witnessed the test flight of 'Akash', which could be used to counter the anti-ballistic missile and enemy aircraft.

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

The missile has the advanced booster and ramjet propulsion with multiple target handling capability, which incorporated the state-of-the-art technology.

It has undergone several flight tests earlier from the ITR.