Article Posted on : - Feb 02, 2010

A file photo.

BANGALORE (PTI): The Defence Acquisition Council has decided to procure six more Akash missile squadrons, Defence Minister A K Antony said here Tuesday.

This is in addition to the two squadrons procured earlier, Antony told reporters. Each squadron comprises 125 missiles.

Antony said earlier there was a proposal to abandon the Akash project as IAF was not happy with it, but later they tried it.

"Now they are very happy," the minister said.

The �Akash� anti aircraft missile is a part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) undertaken by Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).The �Akash� anti-aircraft missile was intended as a replacement for the Russian SAM-6 Kvadrat used by Indian Army.

The missile has a height ceiling of 18,000 meters and is capable of detecting and destroying aircraft flying at tree top height. The missile is supported by multi-target and multi-function phased array fire control radar called 'Rajendra' that has a range of about 60 km.