Article Posted on : - Mar 26, 2011

Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs)

HYDERABAD (PTI): Mini-Ratna defence PSU Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has signed the largest-ever contract with Indian Army for Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) worth about Rs 14,000 crore, the company said in a statement.

According to a senior official of BDL, the order comprises missiles, support equipment and services. It is the highest value contract placed by the Indian Army to date, it said.

Chairman and Managing Director of BDL, Maj General (Retd) Ravi Khetarpal, said the company had also received an order of the Air Force version of the Akash SAM worth over Rs 1,000 crore.

The Akash SAM has been developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme and has a range of 25 km.

The weapon system is capable of engaging targets in all weather conditions. The Armed Forces are looking at these missiles for defence of its installations from aerial attacks.

With these projects, BDL is well on its way to becoming a Navratna Defence PSU with a turnover projected at over Rs 5,000 crore by 2015, according to the company sources.