Akash NG surface-to-air missile scores in maiden Republic Day eve test

The new generation surface-to-air missile, engineered to shoot down high-performing fighter aircraft, was test launched at Balasore

Prominent at the Republic Day parade on Tuesday was a tableaux depicting the missile programme of the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO). But one of the missiles featured — the Akash New Generation (Akash NG) surface-to-air missile (SAM) — had already made a splash a day earlier, with its successful maiden test launch at Balasore, off the coast of Odisha.
 
The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the army already operate nine batteries of the venerable, but reliable, Akash missile. This is now being improved into the Akash-NG — a new generation SAM, engineered to shoot down extremely high-performing fighter aircraft