One year of Akash SAM in service

[Major Shaitan Singh]

The indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) has completed a year in deployed service with the Indian Air Force. With two active squadrons now in Gwalior and Lohegaon and two more coming up in forward areas of the North East, the system is acquitting itself satisfactorily in terms of preparedness parameters. The Indian Air Force ordered eight squadrons (two in December 2008 and six more in December 2010), receiving its first battery in March last year. The first squadron was raised in Gwalior, the second in Pune and the next two are coming up in the Northeast.

"The Akash is an extremely important system for the IAF. It has been a long development process, which has ended in success. The IAF is supporting the programme with its resources and commitment, and has been impressed with the capability it offers. We have ordered eight squadrons, which will replace the mission profile performed by our Pechora and OSA squadrons. In future, we may consider more," says a senior officer at Air HQ.

The IAF had an unfortunate series of failed customer tests in May-June last year, following the acceptance of units, though issues with the system were subsequently ironed out. The manufacture of the systems is being split between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the IAF and Army (the latter has on order two regiments, ordered in March 2011). Things started rough in 2012 with certain delivery hiccups from BEL slowing down inductions, though the public sector undertakings (PSU) has since speeded up deliveries to keep deadlines with the IAF. Sources indicate the IAF has received 32 launchers so far for four squadrons. The Army has received four launchers so far for part of its first regiment. The Army is incidentally, considering placing orders for additional regiments.

The IAF will be conducting user launches periodically this year from the Integrated Test Range is Odisha, and will test the Akash in various mission profiles including a) far boundary interception, b) near boundary interception, b) high altitude interception, c) crossing and receding target interception, d) low-altitude and near boundary, e) multiple target interception, f) low altitude and far boundary interception, g) mid-altitude and mid-range, h) crossing and approaching, in addition to others. These profiles were demonstrated during user trials between 2007-2010.

The Akash programme team is now also working on the Mk.II version of the Akash, a programme formally sanctioned in May 2010. The Mk.II version envisages a 35-km range weapon with an expanded kill envelope and a higher degree of engagement and accuracy.

http://astrashastra.blogspot.in/

 

[sardar1987]

OK let me ask you one thing??

What is the use of akash after barak 8?

 

[Raje amar]

Good to see indigenous system doing well to the expectation of the user.

MK II new to be lighter and more effective. Though we have long range SAM in progress with Israel, I expected it to be 50 km range.

Best luck to DRDO for the MKII.

 

[Raje amar]

OK let me ask you one thing??

What is the use of akash after barak 8?

Both are in different category. 3 types of SAM systems are there,

1. Long range - Barack 8.
2. Medium range - Aakash.
3. Pointe defence - Mai try with France.

There is always need for the improved end products.

 

[Major Shaitan Singh]

OK let me ask you one thing??

What is the use of akash after barak 8?

Barak 8 are designed for sea based platform and Akash is road mobile, Akash is cheaper than Barak 8, they are made for different scenario and purpose.

 

[acetophenol]

OK let me ask you one thing??

What is the use of akash after barak 8?

Barak 8 project is thought to be for the navy. Indian Navy and DRDO are the funders of the project from Indian side.

 

[BlueDot_in_Space]

Barak 8 project is thought to be for the navy. Indian Navy and DRDO are the funders of the project from Indian side.

Not just funders, DRDO is also providing the propulsion system

 

[AADHAAR]

Not just funders, DRDO is also providing the propulsion system

Sort of interesting. because it is the other way round for Brahmos: Russia providing the propulsion system, and India all the guidance and electronics systems. For Barak-8, Israel is providing all the electronics, seekers etc.

 

[Gessler]

Not just funders, DRDO is also providing the propulsion system

The work share in Barak-VIII is divided into 2 sections.



Components of the rear section are from India - which include the boosters, propulsion system, thrust-vectored nozzle, rear-end control fins, fuel, warhead etc.

The front section is Israeli - it comprises the more advanced electronic stuff in the missile - like the radar/IIR seekers, detonation fuses, front control fins, and nose cone.

It is a true JV missile.

 

[sardar1987]

Sort of interesting. because it is the other way round for Brahmos: Russia providing the propulsion system, and India all the guidance and electronics systems. For Barak-8, Israel is providing all the electronics, seekers etc.

This i believe is a big mistake by india by being in so many groups or blocks at the same time.........no doubt we are getting good stuff but we are sure to get debunked by russia and sooner rather than later it will stop giving us the tot.

We should have invested in s-400 and vityaz system that russia has developed insted.

Vityaz missile system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But i am not sure whether vityaz will be operational on ships??

The main advantage of vityaz stems from the fact that it contains 2 diff missile classes for both short range and long range targets

http://www.armyrecognition.com/russ...data_sheet_specifications_pictures_video.html

 

[AADHAAR]

This i believe is a big mistake by india by being in so many groups or blocks at the same time.........no doubt we are getting good stuff but we are sure to get debunked by russia and sooner rather than later it will stop giving us the tot.

We should have invested in s-400 and vityaz system that russia has developed insted.

Vityaz missile system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But i am not sure whether vityaz will be operational on ships??

The main advantage of vityaz stems from the fact that it contains 2 diff missile classes for both short range and long range targets

Vityaz 50R6 ground-to-air defense missile system technical data sheet specifications pictures video*-*Army Recognition*-*Army Recognition

To be fair ... Russian weapons are good against the enemy in war.

But expect more Sindhurakshak's to happen, if we don't move away from Russia.

Western technology (including Israel's) is a generation ahead of Russia's.

India will benefit if it makes the best of both ... luckily we are friends-with-everyone.

We get to learn both items in different collarborations. .(i) electronics and guidance in Brahmos, where propulsion is Russian, and (ii) our own propulsion in Barak-8, where electronics and guidance is Israel's.

 

[sardar1987]

To be fair ... Russian weapons are good against the enemy in war.

But expect more Sindhurakshak's to happen, if we don't move away from Russia.

Western technology (including Israel's) is a generation ahead of Russia's.

India will benefit if it makes the best of both ... luckily we are friends-with-everyone.

We get to learn both items in different collarborations. .(i) electronics and guidance in Brahmos, where propulsion is Russian, and (ii) our own propulsion in Barak-8, where electronics and guidance is Israel's.

See part of the problem is india too.Wee want the max returns for whatever money we provide and are willing to induct old stuff if cheap enough

1)We kept on making mig-21 years after russia retired these and then we started blaming russia

2)We delayed scorpene so much and now we are blaming french instead of our failure to absorb tot

3)We have been double crossed by french in mirage 2000 upgrade but no one talks of that??why?

4)At least land based barak 8 is no match for vityaz,,,as russian sam's are well known

5)We made a blunder in not investing in S-400.........china invested in s-300 and inducted that in its destroyers as hhq-9 years ago while we will see barak-8 in 2-3 years at the best

6)I am sure its a state of art system but range is low at least compared to chinese and european systems like aster.

 

[AUSTERLITZ]

LRSAM.BARAK-8 land version with 120 km range is projcted as army and air force's theatre long range air defence missile.
Akash is the medium range tactical SAM.
MAITRI will be short range point defence SAM,As stopgap israeli SPYDER has been acquired.
Along with new tender for VSHORADS or MANPADS this will give armed forces a layered air defence umbrella.

 

[sardar1987]

LRSAM.BARAK-8 land version with 120 km range is projcted as army and air force's theatre long range air defence missile.
Akash is the medium range tactical SAM.
MAITRI will be short range point defence SAM,As stopgap israeli SPYDER has been acquired.
Along with new tender for VSHORADS or MANPADS this will give armed forces a layered air defence umbrella.

Yar thats exactly my point,,,,why not just invest in one sam with both short and long range missiles like vityaz??
but anyhow if barak-8 is as good as anyone is hoping for then its almost similar to vityaz and good for india

 

[AUSTERLITZ]

Yar thats exactly my point,,,,why not just invest in one sam with both short and long range missiles like vityaz??
but anyhow if barak-8 is as good as anyone is hoping for then its almost similar to vityaz and good for india

Barak-8 LRSAM variant is better than vityaz has thrice the range of vityaz 40 km.
Russians too have decided on triple layer defense .

S-400 long range.
Vityaz medium range.
Morphey and Pantsyr point defence.
These sams have different functions and advnatages and disadvantages and best used in conjunction.