India Tuesday successfully test fired a new surface-to-air missile--'Barak-8', from a defence base in its eastern sate of Odisha, state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) said.
The long-range nuclear capable ballistic missile, developed jointly with Israel, was launched from a mobile launcher in the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Odisha coast at Chandipur at around 10:13 a.m. (local time).
"The most advanced surface-to-air missile 'Barak-8' was today successfully test-fired off the Odisha coast," the broadcaster said.
According to AIR, the 4.5-meter missile weighs around three tonnes and can carry a payload of 70 kg. The system also includes a multi-functional surveillance and threat alert radar for detection, tracking and guidance of the missile.
Quoting its sources, the broadcaster said more tests of the missile would be carried out during the day and on Wednesday.
Reports said local administration in Balasore district, about 207 km northeast of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, temporarily shifted 3,700 people residing within the 2.5 km radius of the test spot as a precautionary measure.
The fishermen were also stopped from venturing into the sea during the test launch.
Earlier, "Barak-8" was successfully test fired on June 30 and later on on July 1.
Reports said the missiles would be inducted in all the three military services (Army, Navy and Air Force) after the completion of trials.
