Akash Missiles

Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile defence system. It was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Electronics Limited. 10 of these missiles were recently test fired by the Indian Air Force as a part of the Combined Guided Weapons Firing 2020 exercise in the Suryalanka testfiring range Andhra Pradesh. Most of these missiles scored a direct hit at the target. This exercise comes amid the threat posed by the Chinese Air Force along the LAC.

About Akash Missile

It was produced by the Bharat dynamics Limited, Tata Power strategic engineering division, Larsen and Toubro, Bharat Electronics Limited and developed by Defence research and development organisation. It can target aircraft up to 30 km. The Missile has capabilities to neutralize aerial targets such as Cruise missiles, air to surface missiles, fighter jets and ballistic missiles.

The first test flight of Akash missile was conducted in 1990. Akash missiles are developed with the cost of thousand crores or 200 million USD. The cost is 8 to 10 times slower than the cost of development of similar systems in other countries.

Unique features of Akash missile

The unique features of Akash missile are digitally coded command guidance, all the way powered flight till target in perception, fully automatic operation and multiple target handling capacity.

Batteries of Akash missile

The batteries of Akash missile is comprised of four launches with three missiles each. Every battery in the Akash missile can track up to 64 targets and can attack 12 of them. The Akash missile carries 60 kilograms of high explosive were heads.

Every battery of Akash missile consists of a battery level radar called Rajendra.

Rajendra Radar

Rajendra is a passive electronically scanned array radar. It was developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation. Electronically scanned array is an antenna that can be electronically steered to different directions. The Rajendra radar is a ground surveillance radar and has an operating frequency of 20 gigahertz. It is mainly used to track enemy installation.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2020