Indigenously developed surface-to-air Akash Missile inducted in IAF

July 10, 2015

Indigenously developed supersonic surface-to-air Akash Missile has been inducted in Indian Air Force (IAF).
The Akash missile was inducted by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at a function held at Maharajpur Airbase in Gwalior after he handed over the symbolic key of Akash defence system (ADS) to Air chief Marshal Arup Raha.
It should be noted that Akash missile already has been included in Indian Army. It was inducted in Army in May 2015.

Facts about Akash Missile

Indigenously developed by the DRDO and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) as part of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) of 1980’s.
Manufactured using 92 per cent of indigenous machinery and can be transported anywhere via road, water or air transport.
It is a potent supersonic mobile multi-target point, multi-directional missile, capable to engage multiple air targets simultaneously using sophisticated multi-function phased array radars.
Capabile to neutralise aerial targets like cruise missiles, fighter jets and air-to-surface missiles with strike range of 25km. It can destroy aerial target upto 30 km away at altitudes upto 18,000 m.
It has supersonic speed i.e. it is three times faster than that of sound and capable to carry conventional warhead of 60 kg.

Initially, 8 squadrons of ADS will be inducted in IAF as per the contract. Each squadron will have 2 firing units and 4 launchers. Each launcher has a capacity to 3 three missiles in quick succession.

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