Recently Indian Air Force (IAF) official twitter handle tweeted a post about the Akash Missile System with #AtmaNirbharBharat. But do you know what the Akash Missile System is?
Let’s find out:-
The Akash Missile System is totally MADE IN INDIA !!!
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is the developer and the Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) is the producer of this medium-range mobile Surface-to-Air missile (SAM). Even its missile launcher is made by Indian companies Bharat Electronics (BEL), Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division and Larsen & Toubro.
Capabilities of Akash Missile System :-
It is capable of neutralising aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles.
The system is equipped with phased array fire control radar called “Rajendra” with a tracking range of about 60 km. It can track 64 targets in range and can guide eight missiles simultaneously in ripple fire mode towards four targets.
Let us know about the missile used in this system :-
Akash missile is used in the system which is a surface to air missile with an intercept of 25 km. It has a launch weight of 720 kg with a diameter of 35 cm and a length of 5.78 m. It flies at a supersonic speed of 2.5 mach and can reach an altitude of 20 km. Also integrated with a self-destruct device and is propelled by an Integrated Ramjet Rocket Engine. The Missile has Command guidance in its entire flight.
Budget for the Missile System:-
One unit cost of this missile system is 2 crore. The Indian Military’s combined order of the Akash, including radar systems, have a worth of 28,800 crore. As per the Ministry of Defence Report 2018, the existing order of Akash saved 34,500 crore rupees of foreign exchange for India in Imports.
