Indian Army Likely to Order another Batch of Akash Surface-to-air Missiles

The Indian Army is likely to order another batch of home-grown Akash, medium-range surface-to-air missiles from Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO).

“The defence forces were fully satisfied with the performance of Akash system and that they were also intending to enhance its performance, Lt. Gen Parminder Singh S Jaggi, Director General, Army Air Defense was quoted as saying by The Hindu Tuesday.

“We are happy with the Akash system. It is a watershed as far as indigenous systems are concerned. The biggest advantage is it is a home grown system,” Jaggi said.

“The first user trial by AAD crew was fully successful. Akash has been validated as it has been conceptualised,” he added.

The Army is likely to order more Akash regiments as it is in the process of replacing its legacy systems in service. More regiments were ordered. There could be additional enhancements in the system as well as in the performance, he said.

In December last year, DRDO test-fired the Akash missile with an indigenous radio frequency seeker against a mobile target. This missile is being inducted into Army as Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM). It constitutes the Indian Army's primary battlefield support missile against aerial targets