Supersonic Akash air defence missiles on 28 May 2014
successfully intercepted the targets. Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted the
tests and it will be
the first service to
induct the Akash missiles in their inventory.
The three Akash missiles were launched from the
Integrated Test Range (ITR), Balasore, off the coast of Odisha. They were
launched on tow body target of Lakshya (pilotless target aircraft) moving at
low altitude far boundary, and ripple mode missions. The missiles intercepted
the fast moving and maneuvering small RCS targets within small interval of five
seconds in ripple mode.
The missiles were developed by Defence Research and
Development Laboratory (DRDL) along with 13 other DRDO laboratories and
manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). The launchers were developed by
a DRDO lab and produced by Tata Power and L&T.
About Akash Missile
• Akash missiles were developed as part of
Integrated Missile Development Programme of the 1980.
• It is an all weather area air defence weapon
system for defending vulnerable areas against medium range air targets
penetrating from low, medium and high altitudes.
• It is a Supersonic surface-to-air missile with a
range of about 25 km and carries a 55 kg fragmentation warhead that is
triggered by proximity fuze. It is autonomous and its operation is fully
automated.
• It uses state-of-art integral ram jet rocket
propulsion system and the onboard digital autopilot ensures stability and
control.
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