In a major milestone in the ongoing surface-to-air missile (SAM) programme, India successfully conducted the first test of 'Akash-Next Generation' (Akash-NG) missile from a defence facility off Odisha coast on Monday.

Defence sources said the missile was launched from a mobile platform positioned at the Launching Complex - III of the Integrated Test Range at about 2.30 pm against an electronic target.

A defence official from New Delhi said that all the mission objectives had been met and the missile system had performed as expected. "The mission was 100 per cent successful as the missile intercepted the electronic target as simulated. The missile will significantly bolster India's air defence system," he said.

The successful maiden test of surface-to-air Akash-NG assumed significance as it came a few days after the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its go-ahead to the export of Akash missile systems to friendly countries.

Developed by DRDO, the weapon system can handle multiple targets and destroy manoeuvring targets like cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and fighter aircraft.

Flying at a supersonic speed it is capable of killing both subsonic and supersonic targets. The new Akash system can defend an area of at least 10 times better compared to any short-range SAM and is capable of engaging up to 10 targets near simultaneously.

While the earlier variant of the missile has a maximum range of 30 km and can travel up to an altitude of 20 km, the Akash-NG can strike targets up to 70 km away.

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