Akash Missile System

Akash Missile System Latest News

India’s reported sale of its indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile system to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan could mark an important step in the country’s ambition to become a major global arms exporter.

About Akash Missile System

• It is a short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.
• It is designed to protect vulnerable areas, points, and assets from a range of aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and helicopters.
• It was indigenously designed and developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is produced by Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL).
• It was developed under India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). 
  • The programme also involved the development of the Nag, Agni, and Trishul missiles, as well as the Prithvi ballistic missile. 
• It is currently in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army.
• Akash should be distinguished from adjacent systems within India’s tiered air-defence grid. 
  • It occupies the medium-range layer, below the long-range S-400 Triumf acquired from Russia and the indigenous-Israeli Barak-8/MR-SAM, and above short-range systems such as the quick-reaction surface-to-air missiles (QRSAM) and the man-portable point-defence weapons.

Also Read: Missiles in India

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Akash Missile System Features

• The system features a launcher, a missile, a control centre, an integral mission guidance system, a multifunctional fire control radar, a system arming and explosion mechanism, a digital autopilot, C4I (command, control, communication, and intelligence) centres, and supporting ground equipment.
• The missile is 5.87 meters long, 350 millimeters in diameter, and weighs 710 kilograms.
• It features a solid-fuel, ramjet propulsion system, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.5 to 3.5 (up to 4,200 km/h).
• It covers a range of 4.5 km to 25 km and can engage aerial threats flying between 100 meters and 20 kilometers in altitude.
• It can simultaneously engage multiple targets in Group Mode or Autonomous Mode. It has a kill probability of up to 99% with a salvo of two missiles. 
• The missile has a 60 kg pre-fragmented warhead with proximity fusing.  
• Its sophisticated Rajendra radar can track numerous targets and guide multiple missiles concurrently.
• It is fully automatic, features built-in electronic counter measures, and is mobile across different terrains.

Akash Missile System Variants

• Akash-1S: Incorporates an indigenous radio-frequency (RF) seeker for improved terminal accuracy, moving away from pure command guidance. 
• Akash Prime: Upgraded RF seeker and optimised for high-altitude, low-temperature operation, addressing performance gaps observed in mountainous theatres. 
• Akash-NG (New Generation): Introduces an active electronically scanned array (AESA) multifunction radar, an active RF seeker, a canisterised launcher, and extended range.

News: NDTV