Indian Air Force Receives Akash Missile System

India’s Bharat Electronics developed surface to Air Akash Missile System was inducted into the air force today.

Except a few electronic components, most of the parts of Akash has the ‘Made in India' tag. About 92 per cent of the total cost of inputs is sourced within the nation, CNN IBN reported.

The air defense system has a range of 25 km. The 700-kg Akash missile can carry a 60-kg warhead which is triggered by proximity fuse. It can speed up to Mach 2.5. It can be launched from a fixed as well as a mobile platform.

Further, it uses integral ram jet rocket propulsion system and the onboard digital autopilot to bring stability and control.

The all-weather area air defense weapon system is useful for protecting the areas from medium range air targets penetrating from low, medium and high altitudes. Further, it is designed to neutralize multiple aerial targets attacking from many directions simultaneously.

The autonomous system, with its automated operation, is configured to be cross country mobile on tracked chasses for the Army.

The induction of Akash into the Indian Air Force was marked by the symbolic handing over of the weapon system by the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Chief of the Air Staff.