India sucessfully test fires long range surface-to-air missile

Balasore (Odisha), Sep 20 (PTI) In a bid to galvanise itsair defence capabilities, India today successfully test fireda new, long range surface-to-air missile jointly developedwith Israel from a defence base off Odisha coast. The long range missile, a product of a joint venturebetween India and Israel, was test launched from a mobilelauncher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur nearhere at around 10.13 hours, a DRDO official said. The trial was successful and some more rounds of test areexpected to be conducted shortly, the DRDO scientist said. "Apart from the missile, the system includes a MultiFunctional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF STAR) fordetection, tracking and guidance of the missile," the officialsaid, adding the missile along with MF-STAR would provide theusers the capability to neutralise any aerial threats. Earlier, between June 30 and July 1, 2016 threeconsecutive test firing of the medium range surface to airmissile, jointly developed by India and Israel were conductedfrom the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO)base at Chandipur. The missile guided by armoured seeker hadsuccessfully hit the last minute manoeuvring target. Indian Navy had also successfully test launched the longrange surface to air missile (LR-SAM). The test was undertakenon the Western Seaboard by INS Kolkata on December 30, 2015. These missiles would be inducted in all the threeservices after trials were completed. Many Indian industries like BEL, L&T, BDL, and TATAgroup of companies besides other private industries havecontributed to the development of a number of subsystems whichhave been put into use in this flight test, the official said. As a safety measure, Balasore district administration inconsultation with the defence officials had temporarilyshifted 3,652 persons residing within 2.5 km radius of thelaunch pad No.3 of the ITR at Chandipur to nearby temporaryshelter centres this morning to ensure a safe launch of themissile, a district revenue official said. Fishermen engaged in fishing along the Bay of Bengal inthree coastal districts of Balasore, Bhadrak and Kendrapadawere asked not to venture into the sea during the time of thetest launch. PTI COR SKN CRDVDV