BALASORE: In an embarrassment to the DRDO, the most sophisticated surface-to-air missile, Akash, failed to take off on Wednesday during a user-specific trial from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Odisha coast. The tests are being conducted by the armed forces.The missile was lined up for trial around 11.10 am from a road launcher at the launching complex-III of the ITR. Like the earlier trials last week, a pilot-less target aircraft (PTA) was flown from the launching complex-II which was to be targeted by the missile.A source at the test facility said the radar in the Akash system usually tracks the target and provides required command to the launcher to fire the missile. “But during this trial, the radar could not locate the PTA and failed to give command to the launcher,” the source said.“The scientists are looking at the faults in the system and hope to rectify it. They are preparing for the next trial on Thursday,” the source said and termed it as a minor snag in the system.
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