Akash, the indigenously built medium range surface-to-air missile, was test fired thrice from the Interim Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea around noon on Saturday, defence sources said.

The three missiles were fired from mobile launchers between 12.02pm and 12.11pm, the sources said.

The missile, with a range of 27 km with an effective ceiling of 15 km, was fired at targets supported by the Pilotless Target Aircraft known as 'Lakshya', the sources said.

Akash, part of india's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, was fired from a mobile launcher on February 21 and 24 as well.

It was also successfully put through a trial on November 30 last while carrying a live warhead, an exercise which was
conducted by defence researchers for the first time with any type of missiles.

The missile, which has a launch weight of 700 kg, can carry a warhead of 60 kg and operated in conjunction with a Rajendra surveillance and engagement radar being developed by the Electronic Research and Development Establishment.

The sources said the missile, being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, had undergone a number of trials and the current thrust of the test was its guidance system.