NEW DELHI, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 30 percent of India's indigenous surface-to-air missiles Akash failed during testing, thus posing "an operational risk during hostilities," the country's top government auditor has pointed out.
"Out of 80 missiles received up to November 2014, 20 missiles were test fired during April-November 2014. Six of these missiles, that is, 30 percent, failed the test," the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has said in its report submitted to the Parliament this week.
It added that "the missiles fell short of the target, had lower than the required velocity, and there was malfunctioning of critical units."
According to the report, the strategic missile system was to be installed at the six designated sites between 2013 and 2015. "But till date, none of the missile systems has been installed due to delay in execution of civil works at the sites concerned," the CAG said.
Neither the state-owned Bharat Electronics Ltd that developed the missiles, nor the Indian Air Force has commented on the CAG report yet. Enditem
