India's sophisticated short-range surface-to-air missile Trishul was test-fired twice from the integrated test range at Chandipur-on-sea, about 15 km from Balasore, Orissa on Monday, defence sources said.
It was the second time since Sunday that the test was conducted. The missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher at 2.15 pm. A second missile was released after a few seconds. Both times, a micro-light aircraft in the sky was made the target, the sources said.
Trishul, which has a range of nine km and is powered by a two-stage solid propellant system, is indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
About three metres in length and 200 mm in diameter, the missile flies at supersonic speed and can carry a 15 kg payload. The missile's range could be enhanced after completion of few other trials, the sources said.
Trishul has triple battlefield role for the army, air force and navy and can engage targets like aircraft and helicopters by using its radar command-to-line-of-sight guidance.
With a high manoeuvrability, the missile had been flight tested in the sea-skimming role and also against moving targets earlier.
Trishul forms part of India's guided missile development programme under which four other missiles -- Agni, Prithvi, Akash and Nag -- have been developed or are being developed.
The missile has a sensitive radar-altimeter and height lock-loop control onboard for the naval version. The army variant, Trishul Combat Vehicle, is based on a tracked BMP-1 infantry combat vehicle and houses all equipment including radars, command-guidance system and missiles, sources said.
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