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.