India Tests Another Missile

India successfully test fired a medium-range surface-to-air missile Thursday in eastern India, Press Trust of India news agency said.

The Indian-made multi-target missile has a range of 16 miles. It is one of the five missiles under various stages of development by the state-owned Defense Research and Development Organization, the news agency said.

The missile, named Akash (Sky), has undergone several flight tests and was close to user's trial, PTI said. The 1,440 pounds missile is capable of carrying a 110-pound payload.

India says it needs the missiles to defend itself against Pakistan to the west and China to the north — both of which have fought wars with India.

India and China fought a brief mountain war in 1962. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947 — two of them over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.

India's missile arsenal includes the short-range ballistic missile Prithvi; the medium range Agni missile, the surface-to-air Akash missile, the anti-tank Nag missile and the supersonic Brahmos missile.