Article Posted on : - Jul 13, 2015

Chief Managing Director, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), SK Sharma presenting a replica of Akash Missile to Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha as Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar looks on during its induction into the IAF at Air Force Station Gwalior on Friday. Photo: PTI.

GWALIOR (PTI): The indigeniously-developed supersonic surface-to-air missile "Akash" that can target aircraft upto a distance of 30 km, was on Friday formally inducted in the Indian Air Force here by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

IAF has given an initial contract for eight squadrons of Akash defence system. Each squadron has two firing units with four launchers. Each launcher has a capacity to fire three missiles in quick succession.

The missile system can target aircraft upto 30 km away, at altitudes upto 18,000 metres. It has the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles.

The Akash system has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) is the production agency.

Akash has already been deployed by IAF at its bases in Gwalior, Hashimara, Tejpur, Jorhat and Pune. The deployment started in 2013

"It is pertinent to note that Akash is the first made-in-India missile system and is a hallmark of sustained and focused jointmanship between DRDO, BEL, private sector and more importantly the IAF," a statement by the IAF said.

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, who formally received the 'key' of the Akash system from Parrikar, said that a total of 27 missiles had been fired after inking of the contract, to ascertain the serviceability of the system in various conditions and a high success rate had been achieved.

He said that plans were afoot in the IAF for procurement of additional Akash systems.

Akash is a potent supersonic mobile multi-directional, multi-target point, area Air Defence system that can simultaneously engage multiple air targets using sophisticated multi-function phased array radars.

The advanced ECCM (Electronic Counter Counter Measures) features provide secure communication links with other Air Defence Command and Control networks to handle the counter electronic warfare scenario, the statement said.

Indigenous development of Akash system has given impetus to the defence industrial base of the country and generated business of more than Rs 20,000 crore, it said.

Akash is the outcome of successful partnership between DRDL, the nodal lab in DRDO, along with 13 other DRDO labs, 19 Public Sector Units, 5 Ordinance Factories, 3 National Laboratories, 6 academic institutions and more than 265 private industries across the country.

"Work on the second phase of the Akash Missile System -2 is going on at a fast pace. It will also be inducted in the Indian Air Force within two years," Defence Minister Parrikar said after the induction ceremony.

He said "by developing this ultra-modern powerful missile system in the country, India has taken a successful step in the direction of 'Make In India'."

Akash is the first 'Made In India' missile system and a hallmark of sustained and focused partnership between Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the Defence Minister said and congratulated the experts behind the programme.

The Defence Minister handed over the key of Akash Missile System as a token to IAF's Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha on the occasion, an official release said.

Parrikar also lauded the efforts of DRDO, BEL, public and private sectors, inspection agencies as well as the end user who worked together to resolve a number of challenges which cropped up during production of the Akash Missile System, the release said.

Praising the 'Make In India' programme, he said that its benefits like employment generation, financial growth, self sufficiency and better defence preparedness were there for all to see.

Air Chief Marshal Raha, on the occasion, said that a total of 27 missiles had been fired after inking of the contract to ascertain the serviceability of the system in various conditions and a high success rate had been achieved.

He also said that plans were afoot for procurement of additional Akash System for the IAF.