Akash Missile Succesfully Intercepts Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

India's Ministry of Defense today announced the succesful test firing of the Akash missile in very low altitude near boundary mission from the Integrated Test Range, Balasore, Odisha.

This flight trial was last among the validation trials being carried out by Army on the first off production models of Akash supersonic missile, according to an official statement. 

The supersonic missile intercepted the very small unmanned fast moving Banshee aerial vehicle at 30 m altitude above sea level proving the system capability against subsonic cruise missile. 

The sophisticated multi-function radar with built in features tracked the low flying target continuously throughout its course. Special algorithms / techniques developed by DRDO for overcoming the multiple target reflections coming from the sea worked perfectly in the mission, the statement added.

With this flight trial, Indian Army accomplishes all the validation trials on the first off production models and the system is being delivered for induction. 

Avinash Chander, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Director General, DRDO congratulated the teams from DRDO, Production agencies and Army for successful demonstration of intercepting the target in a low altitude near boundary mission and said, “While indigenous development, production and induction of Akash is making very significant contribution to India’s self-reliance in air defence technologies, Akash also has great export potential”. 

Akash mobile Air Defence Weapon System has been designed, developed and led to production by DRDO for defending and protecting the important assets of the country from penetrating aerial attacks. It has completed all the development flight tests, user trials and the system is in production for Army and Air Force. 

The sophisticated technology has been successfully transferred to lead production agencies BEL and BDL. More than 250 industries are engaged in production and supply of various subsystems / components with military / aerospace grade quality for Akash missile and ground systems. BEL and BDL are engaged in executing the production orders worth more than Rs 20,000 Cr placed by armed forced for the Akash missile systems. 

In addition, independent orders for 3D-Central acquisition radar, an offshoot of Akash missile system have also been placed by the three services. The Akash missile systems worth Rs 3500 Cr have already been produced and delivered to the services.