India has successfully test-fired a new surface-to-air missile developed jointly with Israel, from a defence base off Odisha coast. The medium range missile, which will fulfill a huge Indian army requirement, was fired from a mobile launcher in the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur. Apart from the missile, the system includes a Multi-Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF STAR) for detection, tracking and to guide the missile.

A DRDO research lab based in Hyderabad has jointly developed this missile in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries. Earlier, the Indian Navy had successfully test launched a long range surface-to-air missile from INS Kolkata in December last year.

Medium range surface-to-air missiles with strike ranges from 50 to 70 km can fill the gap that India has in its armory at present, say officials. Fishermen in three coastal districts, Balasore, Bhadrakh and Kendrapada, were asked to stay away from the sea during the test launch.