2019 – Posted in: Daily News – Tags: Bharat Dynamics Limited, integrated guided-missile development programme, medium-range Surface to Air missile

AKASH MISSILE

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About Akash Missile

News Flash

Akash is India’s first indigenously produced medium-range Surface to Air missile that can engage multiple targets from multiple directions.

The all-weather missile can engage targets at a speed 2.5 times more than the speed of sound and can detect and destroy targets flying at low, medium and high altitudes.
The Akash missile system has been designed and developed as part of India’s 30-year-old integrated guided-missile development programme (IGMDP) which also includes other missiles like Nag, Agni, Trishul and Prithvi.

Range and Capability

The nuclear-capable missile can fly at a speed of up to Mach 2.5 (nearly 860 meter per second) at a maximum height of 18 km.
It can strike enemy aerial targets like fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles from a distance of 30 km.

Unique Features

It can be launched from mobile platforms like battle tanks or wheeled trucks.
Its unique all-the-way-powered missile system has nearly 90 percent kill probability. Akash has a kill probability of 88 percent for the first missile and 99 percent for the second.
The missile is supported by the indigenously developed radar called ‘Rajendra’ that can handle highly-manoeuvring multiple targets from multiple directions in the group or autonomous mode.
The missile is reportedly cheaper and more accurate than US’ Patriot missiles due to its solid-fuel technology and high-tech radars.
Akash uses a ramjet propulsion system which can intercept the target at supersonic speed without deceleration. The ramjet propulsion and its electronic couter-counter measure equipment also help it break any electronic jamming system.

Components of Akash missile defence system

Akash missile system has seven components. It contains integral ramjet propulsion; a switchable guidance antenna system; a command guidance unit; an onboard power supply; a system arming and detonation mechanism; digital autopilot; multi-function Rajendra phased-array radar; 3D passive electronically scanned array Rajendra radar (PESA) and command centres.
Akash contains four Rajendra radars and four launchers are interlinked together and controlled by the group control centre. Each launcher, equipped with three missiles and one radar, can track 16 targets. So in total, the radar can track 64 targets and simultaneously launch 12 Akash missiles.

Manufacturers

The missile system is designed and developed by DRDO. But Bharat Dynamics (BDL) manufacturer the missiles, while Bharat Electronics produces its hi-tech ‘Rajendra phased array radar’.