India on Friday test-fired a surface-to-air missile from a range in the eastern state of Orissa, defence ministry officials here said.
The missile named Akash – sky in Hindi – was fired at 2:30 pmfrom the Chandipur-on-Sea testing site, 200 kilometres (125 miles) northeast of Bhubaneswar, Orissa's state capital.
The official said the missile successfully hit and destroyed a flying drone. Akash was last tested in February.
The 700-kilogram (1,540-pound) Akash can carry a 70 kilogram (154-pound) warhead and is capable of travelling 27 kilometres (17 miles).
Akash is one of five missiles being developed by India's state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan frequently test-fire missiles they are developing for military purposes.
In 1999, a year after the two sides tested nuclear weapons, they agreed to notify each other ahead of missile tests.
