After a decade and more of strengthening the country's defenses, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has accepted the Akash missile as part of its arsenal to counter Chinese air threat in the North East region. The Akash missile system will help protect strategic targets in the North East, whether they are airfields, important bridges on the Brahmaputra, Railway Junctions, Power projects cities in the region like Guwahati. The Air Force has already cleared the project and the defence acquisition council chaired by defence minister A K Antony is expected to clear it on the 28th of January after which four squadrons of Akash will be ordered to add to the two squadrons ordered on a trial basis earlier. Some of the strategic installations in the North East region that the Akash missile system will help protect from Chinese threat: First is the Tezpur airfield where the Sukhoi 30 Aircrafts are stationed. The Chabua airfield is another important installation. Jorhat airfield and Mohanbari airfield will also be protected from enemy fire. Air fields apart other installations like BARC and other power plants will be protected A number of cities in the North East region. Akash's specifications: Operational range : 25-30 km Length: 5.78 metres Flight ceiling: 18,000 meters Speed: 2.8 to 3.5 Mach Launch weight: 720 kg source : Times Now [youtube]lJ-QHCweVCs[/youtube]
Akash is India's medium range surface-to-air missile defense system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Limited(BEL) as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. The missile can target aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m. Akash can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms. Akash is said to be capable of both conventional and nuclear warheads, with a reported payload of 60 kg. A nuclear warhead could potentially give the missile the capability to destroy both aircraft and warheads from ballistic missiles. The missile is described as being able to strike several targets simultaneously, which could mean either separate, independently targetable warheads, or a sufficient blast to destroy a number of them. Along with India, a limited number of other countries including the US, Russia, Japan, Israel, and some EU countries have developed operational multitarget-handling surface-to-air missile systems. With the successful user trials of Akash, India has validated the technology and operational efficacy of this missile system. This system is claimed to be more accurate than the MIM-104 Patriot as it has thrust during the entire course of its flight compared to the Patriot that has thrust only for the first 12 seconds, after which the missile coasts, thus making it less accurate. Apart from that the Akash can be launched from static or mobile platforms, including a battle tank. Specifications: Weight 720 kg Length 5.78 m Diameter 350 mm Warhead 60 kg Fragmentation or Nuclear Warhead Detonation mechanism Radio proximity fuze Engine Booster + Integral Ramjet Rocket (IRR) propulsion Propellant Ramjet rocket propulsion Operational range 25-30 km Flight ceiling 18,000 m Speed Mach 2.8 to 3.5 Guidance system Command Guidance Launch platform BMP-1, T-72, Tata 4923 truck In May 2008 Indian scientists announced they had developed a patented path-breaking technology will increase the range of missiles and satellite launch vehicles by at least 40%. The enhanced range is made possible by adding a special-purpose coating of chromium based material to the blunt nose cone of missiles and launch vehicles. The material acts as a reactive-ablative coating that forms a thin low density gaseous layer over the tip of the rocket or missiles as they approach hypersonic speeds; this super-heated gas layer reduces drag by 47%, thereby allowing range enhancements at least 40%.
IAF orders another 6 Squadrons of Akash SAMs' BANGALORE: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered an additional 750 Akash medium-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) from state-run defence behemoth Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) at a cost of Rs 42.79 billion ($925 million), it was announced on Tuesday. "A decision to place this fresh order with BEL was taken after the IAF expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Akash missiles that are deployed in two squadrons," defence minister AK Antony said on Tuesday. The IAF will deploy 125 missiles each in six squadrons as and when BEL delivers them. "The first order for 250 missiles was placed last year on a pilot basis. The IAF has decided to deploy the weapon in more squadrons for optimal use," Antony said after inaugurating the digital flight control (DFC) computer facility at BEL here. BEL chairman and managing director Ashwani Kumar Datt said that the first order was worth Rs 12.21 billion. Designed and developed by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Akash missile defence system is part of the country's integrated guided missile development programme. "The missile can target an enemy aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 meters and can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms," Datt told reporters on the margins of the function. The missile is capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear warheads with a payload of 60 kg. On the occasion, BEL also handed over to the defence minister an advanced gun fire control system for the Indian Navy. Source: IAF orders another 750 Akash surface-to-air missiles - India - The Times of India
1 Akash Squadron = 125 Akash SAMs' IAF has already inducted 2 squadron of Akash SAMs'. 6 more squadrons now, means a total of 8 squadrons of Akash SAMs'. 8 Squadrons = 125*8 = 1000 Akash SAMs', and that is twice the size of J-xx (5th Gen Fighter, 500 nos.) which China claims to be building and will be in operation in future
