Akash missile to be inducted in air force

[Contrarian]

Akash missile to be inducted in air force

The Indian Air Force has given the go ahead for induction of the indigenous surface-to-air Akash missile.

To start with, a squadron of these missiles, comprising 16 launchers would be inducted into the force, in what could be a happy new year tidings for the missile scientists, after repeated rejections by IAF experts earlier, according to Air Chief Fali Homi Major.

The IAF decision comes after a recent string of successful trials of the missile undertaken at the country's interim test range at Balasore in Orissa.

The missile has already suffered a massive slippage as it was earlier scheduled to be ready for induction in 2003.

"The trials of the Akash missile have gone pretty well. We will get a squadron of these missiles once the trials are over," Major told newsperson on the sidelines of a function in Delhi, where he also outlined that IAF was acquiring more advanced radars for a "gap free" coverage of the country's vulnerable areas like the southern peninsula.

He also said that the IAF had undertaken joint exercises in the region to test reaction to threats from the sea as well as to finetune synergy for increasing civil air traffic in the region.

"We just carried out an exercises in the southern peninsula to activate forces in the area and ensure integration of all air defence assets in the area," he said.

Akash missile to be inducted in air force

 

[KENT]

Akash missile to be inducted in air force

The Indian Air Force has given the go ahead for induction of the indigenous surface-to-air Akash missile.

To start with, a squadron of these missiles, comprising 16 launchers would be inducted into the force, in what could be a happy new year tidings for the missile scientists, after repeated rejections by IAF experts earlier, according to Air Chief Fali Homi Major.

The IAF decision comes after a recent string of successful trials of the missile undertaken at the country's interim test range at Balasore in Orissa.

The missile has already suffered a massive slippage as it was earlier scheduled to be ready for induction in 2003.

"The trials of the Akash missile have gone pretty well. We will get a squadron of these missiles once the trials are over," Major told newsperson on the sidelines of a function in Delhi, where he also outlined that IAF was acquiring more advanced radars for a "gap free" coverage of the country's vulnerable areas like the southern peninsula.

He also said that the IAF had undertaken joint exercises in the region to test reaction to threats from the sea as well as to finetune synergy for increasing civil air traffic in the region.

"We just carried out an exercises in the southern peninsula to activate forces in the area and ensure integration of all air defence assets in the area," he said.

Akash missile to be inducted in air force

Awesome news! one more step nearing towards homgrown product

 

[Contrarian]

Im glad this has finally happened. Foreign SAM's cannot be imported in bulk and we need huge quantities of SAM's in the North East and South where our air coverage is pathetic.

That needs to be fixed ASAP.

I really have no idea how good Akash is, because the IAF was rejecting it less than 3 years go, what dramatic changes could have been done on the missile such that it performed this rigorous 10-day testing flawlessly...

And whether this one comprehensive trial is sufficient. I think there should be a couple more, then again, IAF has more knowledge than me.

But one question lingers, does this SAM match the capabilities of say SPYDER (though that is low to middle range).

 

[KENT]

As per the some of the previous report, it is believed to have some limited capability to engage ballastics missiles as well, slightly in the line of patriot-1 of US. Because of this missile in the past India had rejected US offer of Patriot missile sale, just on the premise of Akash has all the capability that Patriot can offer but at very less cost and in great numbers.

Afterall something is better even if it is delayed rather then nothing.

 

[Contrarian]

True, but we cannot go by old reports. I am glad to hear that the IAF will finally induct the platform, which even if its bad will be far better than the old soviet ones it will replace, not to mention that its domestic.

But is it comparable to the SPYDER SAM's ?

 

[KENT]

True, but we cannot go by old reports. I am glad to hear that the IAF will finally induct the platform, which even if its bad will be far better than the old soviet ones it will replace, not to mention that its domestic.

But is it comparable to the SPYDER SAM's ?

Comparison of Spyder and Akash in completly a different ball game. Since Spyder sam is short range and low level quick reaction sam system, in contrast Akash is medium range sam. Having a quick reaction competence has added advantage for the approvel of spyder sam for IA services, as it seems to have completely feet into IA doctrine, apart from Spyder IA already possess Tunguska low level quick reaction SAM system.

The SPYDER-SR system has 360° engagement capability and the missiles can be launched from the full-readiness state in less than five seconds from target confirmation. The kill range is from less than 1km to more than 15km and at altitudes from a minimum of 20m to a maximum of 9,000m. The system is capable of multi-target simultaneous engagement and also single, multiple and ripple firing, by day and night and in all weathers.
So far only 18 battaries have been ordered by the IA at the cost of $ 350 million.
other then quick reaction properties, spyder sam does'nt seems to have anything far better then Akash. As countermeasures for akash is very difficult, as Akash guided by radar guidence rather then all other conventional onboard guidence system, hence it made difficult for an aircraft to apply countermeasures to deceive missile like Akash. Radar of akash, which known as Rajendra can track around 200 targets which 60 kilometers span whereas Spyder's radar can only track somewhere around 50-60 target.
But Spyder as well as Tunguska are an ideal weapon system to counter threat like Cruise missile, UAV,helicopter, smart ammunition.
Apart spyder, DRDO has also initiated an “Maitri” SAM which low level quick reaction in partnership of MBDA. In addition to it Barak-II SAM development is also going on
Looking at all this SAM system development and long range radar, in addition to Anti-Ballastic sam aquisiton as well as homegrown AAD and PAD as well as host of all other upgraded SA series Sam., it seems to me that Airdefence system of India is quite dynamic and formidable.

 

[Contrarian]

I know that they are different, and i have mentioned that in the last post kent.

But if Akash is ONLY guided by radar then its a disadvantage as well. The radars will be the first to be taken out in a DEAD mission. The missile should have onboard guidance system as well. LOAL capabilities are required.

The key to all you mentioned in the latter half of you post is 'under development'. Thankfully almost all of it is under joint development otherwise who knows when the systems would fructify.

 

[KENT]

I know that they are different, and i have mentioned that in the last post kent.

But if Akash is ONLY guided by radar then its a disadvantage as well. The radars will be the first to be taken out in a DEAD mission. The missile should have onboard guidance system as well. LOAL capabilities are required.

The key to all you mentioned in the latter half of you post is 'under development'. Thankfully almost all of it is under joint development otherwise who knows when the systems would fructify.

I have failed to understand how does radar would take out in dead mission?

 

[Contrarian]

Mate in a sead/dead mission, the first strikes are against radars, seeing as Pakistan has already been sold HARM's, this is a very real possibility.

If the 3-D CAR and the Rajendra get destroyed, then the batteries are useless.

Now, Akash is a superb system designed for now, the missile cannot be jammed unless you jam the Rajendra radar itself, but the missile needs onboard guidance, loal capabilities.

DRDO has finally delivered and developed a world class system. Akash goes a bloody long way in filling the gap in ADGES...
The Perchoras are bloody old, and they were the main SAM's in the ADGES network till now and they are very old.
The first in line in SAM systems would be the Barak 8 and the AAD with long range area defence capabilities.
The next would be SPYDER and Akash systems for medium range.
The third would be the Trishul/Maitri LLRQM's.

India's SAM environment will soon be one of the finest. DRDO has silenced its critics with this one

 

[KENT]

Mate in a sead/dead mission, the first strikes are against radars, seeing as Pakistan has already been sold HARM's, this is a very real possibility.

If the 3-D CAR and the Rajendra get destroyed, then the batteries are useless.

Now, Akash is a superb system designed for now, the missile cannot be jammed unless you jam the Rajendra radar itself, but the missile needs onboard guidance, loal capabilities.

DRDO has finally delivered and developed a world class system. Akash goes a bloody long way in filling the gap in ADGES...
The Perchoras are bloody old, and they were the main SAM's in the ADGES network till now and they are very old.
The first in line in SAM systems would be the Barak 8 and the AAD with long range area defence capabilities.
The next would be SPYDER and Akash systems for medium range.
The third would be the Trishul/Maitri LLRQM's.

India's SAM environment will soon be one of the finest. DRDO has silenced its critics with this one

Malay, I had read sometimes before in Hindi Newspaper, might be wayback in 5-6 years before that India had developed a kind of Radar and its dimension is such kind of that, it can't be observed by Incoming Aircract and it is very capable of defending aganist Anti-Rediation Missile. Can You retrieve any pieace of information about it. I have been searching it, but could'nt able to trace it.

 

[Contrarian]

Akash gets Govt nod



BALASORE: In a major development, the Centre on Saturday gave clearance for induction of Akash, the surface-to-air missile, into the Indian Armed Forces. The 25-km range missile finally got the Government’s nod after a series of trials since 1990.

Akash was first test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea, about 15 km from Balasore.

A release from the Defence Ministry said a series of user trials of the missile during December at the ITR had been ‘fully successful’, demonstrating the weapon’s intended objective. The trials successfully proved the weapon’s ‘kill capability’, it read.

“The evaluation of the missile has been completed and the weapon system is now available for indigenous production,” a spokesman of the Ministry said.

The missile system is uniquely configured and customised for Indian Air Force and Indian Army.

The missile, which has been under development for a long time, has been hit by a series of delays and technical glitches forcing the defence services to rethink air defence modernisation plan.

Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Fali Homi Major had recently announced initiation process of inducting a squadron-strength of the missile.

According to reports, one squadron of these missiles would consist of 16 batteries that would be capable of targeting incoming aircraft and missiles, up to a range of approximately 25 km.

Earlier this year, the ACM had said the IAF had placed an order for the Spyder missile system to plug crucial gaps in its air defence capabilities due to the delay in the Akash programme.

Development of Akash missile is a part of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and it has already suffered a big delay as it was programmed to be ready for induction in 2003.

The success of the Akash came as a shot in the arm for the scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which last month successfully test-fired for the second time the 3,000-km range surface-to-surface Agni-III missile and an indigenous interceptor missile, planned to be turned into a Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system.

Akash gets Govt nod - Newindpress.com

 

[Titanium]

Akash gets Govt nod



The missile system is uniquely configured and customised for Indian Air Force and Indian Army.


Akash gets Govt nod - Newindpress.com

Very interesting indeed.........

 

[Titanium]

The Army said that whether Akash will be inducted or not is still under consideration because the missile system “doesn't meet the requirements of the Army's air defence modernisation plans”.

“We rejected it earlier and we have not cleared the Akash yet. It doesn't meet all our requirements,” an Army official said.

Source

 

[Contrarian]

Indian Army Hedges Its Bets On Akash Missile System

Monday 14th of January 2008
After the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Indian Army too is hedging its bets on the indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile, saying it would test the weapon before deciding on its deployment.

'Akash has been tested for the IAF. We were not present at the trials,' Indian Army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor said at a press conference here Monday.

'Some of our requirements are still to be met. Only after that will we try out the system,' Kapoor said of the army version of Akash, which the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has taken 20 years to develop against a target of 12 years.

At the same time, he did not deny media reports that the army had rejected the missile system.

While the IAF has initiated steps to induct a squadron-strength of the Akash, it too is unclear about the eventual numbers of the system it will operate.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a defence function last month, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major refused to commit himself to the eventual numbers of the missile the force would deploy, indicating he was not too happy with the system.

In fact, delays in operationalising the Akash had last year prompted the IAF to order the Israeli Spyder missile to plug gaps in its armoury.

At trials conducted for the IAF in December, the missile successively scored bull's eye on five occasions spread over 10 days.

A senior IAF officer pointed out that this did not necessarily mean the IAF had accepted the missile.

'What we witnessed were trials conducted in a DRDO environment. We will now conduct trials in our own environment. Let's see what emerges from that,' the officer told IANS, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Now, with the army too seemingly unhappy with Akash, it is clear that there is a disconnect between the armed forces and the DRDO, which claims the missile is ready to go into serial production and that it expects orders worth Rs.5 billion ($120 million) from the IAF this year.

According to Prahlada, chief controller of R&D at DRDO, 'the development and successful user trials of the Akash missile by the army and air force (in December) is a major milestone in the country's missile programme'.

He claimed that Akash was on a par with the best systems in the world, including the US Patriot system.

Weighing about 700 kg and three-and-a-half metres long, the missile can be ferried to operational areas by rail, road and air and made ready for use within 30 minutes of deployment, Prahlada said.

The missile, according to the scientist, can track and shoot down an enemy aircraft or a helicopter at the height of 25 km within 30 to 45 seconds of a threat being detected.
Indian Army Hedges Its Bets On Akash Missile System | News Post India

 

[Titanium]

Indian Army To Test, Deploy Akash Surface to Air Missile System | India Defence



Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a defence function last month, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major refused to commit himself to the eventual numbers of the missile the force would deploy, indicating he was not too happy with the system. In fact, delays in operationalising the Akash had last year prompted the IAF to order the Israeli Spyder missile to plug gaps in its armoury