Successful trials of Akash surface-toair missile

Akash, the indigenously designed, developed and produced surface-to-air missile for the Indian Army, was once again successfully flight tested recently at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur. These were part of a series of trials being conducted in various engagement modes from the first of production model sys- tem being produced to equip two regiments of Indian Army.

The flight destroying a target in receding ting mode, as well as the one conducted on February 21, 2014, destroying an approaching target, fully met the mission objectives and few more trials are planned in different engagement modes.

“Development and production of Akash weapon system with the active participation of DRDO labs, public sector units (PSUs), Ordnance Factories, National R&D Laboratories, academic Institutions and about 200 private industries is yet another symbol of India’s strength in making indigenous weapon systems,” stated Avinash Chander, Scientific Advisor to RakshaMantri and Secretary Department of Defence R&D, congratulating the production agencies, Indian Army and DRDO team. “The successful trials show the continuing excellence of Indian weapon systems”.

Akash is India’s first indigenously designed, developed and produced air defence system surface to air missile capable of engaging aerial threats upto a distance of approximately 25 km. The multitarget, multi-directional, all weather air-defence system consisting of surveillance and tracking radars, control centres and ground support systems mounted on high mobility vehicles for the “Army” version of Akash is designed to enable integration with other air defence command and control networks through secured communication links. Developed by DRDO, the Army version of Akash is being produced by the Bharat Dynamics Limited as the nodal production agency with the involvement of the Bharat Electronics Limited and a large number of other industries. The total production value of Akash air defence systems cleared for induction by the Indian Army and Indian Air force is more than ` 23,000 crore. SP