IAF orders 750 DRDO developed Akash SAMs

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered an additional 750 Akash medium-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) comprsing six squadrons from Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) at a cost of $925 million, Indian defence minister AK Antony announced today. "A decision to place this fresh order with BEL was taken after the IAF expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Akash missiles that are deployed in two squadrons," defence minister AK Antony said. "The first order for 250 missiles was placed last year on a pilot basis. The IAF has decided to deploy the weapon in more squadrons for optimal use," Antony said after inaugurating the digital flight control computer facility at BEL here. BEL chairman and managing director Ashwani Kumar Datt said that the first order was worth Rs 12.21 billion. Designed and developed by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Akash missile defence system is part of the country's integrated guided missile development programme. "The missile can target an enemy aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 meters and can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms," Datt told reporters on the margins of the function.