India successfully test-fired two Akash surface-to-air missiles able to strike long-range missiles 2

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Defence & Security News - India
 
 
Sunday, April 27, 2014 11:05 AM
 
India successfully test-fired two Akash surface-to-air missiles able to strike long-range missiles.
India on Sunday, April 27, 2014, successfully test-fired two Akash missiles, a new interceptor surface-to-air missile capable of neutralising any incoming long-range missile at higher altitude.The interceptor, positioned at launch pad–IV of Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island, about 100 km from here, roared into the sky at about 9.10 AM to hit its target
     

The Akash is a mobile, multi-directional, multi-target, point/area defence system that can simultaneously engage multiple air targets in a fully autonomous mode of operation.
     
The 700-kg all-weather missile Akash can carry a 60-kg warhead at speeds of up to Mach 2.5. The missile has a strike range of 25 km and can carry a warhead of 60 kgs. It has the capability to target aircraft up to 30 km away and is packed with a battery that can track and attack several targets simultaneously.

With the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles, defence experts compare Akash to the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system of United States

It can operate autonomously and simultaneously engage and neutralise different aerial targets.

The missile can be launched from static or mobile platforms, enabling flexible deployment by the armed forces.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Akash is being produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited as the nodal production agency with the involvement of Bharat Electronics Limited and a large number of other industries.

The missile was last test fired from the same base on February 24, 2014.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) intends to buy at least eight squadrons of Akash missile systems. Following that lead, the Indian Army to has placed an order for two Akash regiments. These orders add up to Rs 23,000 crore, (US $3.8 billion), with systems worth 3,500 crore ($577 million) having already been delivered.

Two Akash missile squadrons have already been inducted into the IAF. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bangalore is prime contractor for building eight Akash missile squadrons for Indian Air Force (IAF). Meanwhile, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hyderabad is the prime contractor for building two Akash missile regiments for the army. For both these versions, the missiles themselves are built by BDL, while radar and electronics are produced by BEL.