DRDO Akash Surface to Air Missile System

AKASH, developed as a part of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) initiated by India in 1983, is an all weather medium range surface to air missile system having a multi- directional, multi target area defence capability. The weapon can simultaneously engage several air targets in a fully autonomous mode of operations.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has fully realized and integrated Mark-I Version of Akash Weapon system. DRDL, Hyderabad has been responsible for system integration and missile development, LRDE Banglaore for radar development , R&DE Pune for launcher,CVRDE for Tracked Vehicles, ARDE for Warhead, and HEMRL for Propellants. Extensive tests of the Weapon system have proved the consistency of various sub systems of the flight and ground elements thereby confirming accuracy, robustness and reliability.

The flight and ground elements of the weapon system are integrated in a plug and fight architecture. The hardware and software integration of various weapon system elements permits autonomous management of air defence functions such as programmable surveillance, target detection, target acquisition, tracking, identification, threat evaluation, prioritization, assignment and engagement. The weapon system can simultaneously engage multiple air targets in a fully

autonomous mode of operation.Command and control nodes, communication links, self propelled launchers and sensors are integrated to achieve these functionalities. The system is designed to enable integration with other air defence command and control networks through secure communication links. The system is also provided with advanced ECCM Features at various levels. The weapon system is cost effective relative to equivalent systems in the market. The weapon system has cross – country mobility and has air, road and rail deployability.

 

The first trial firings occurred in 1990, with the 10th test in September 1998. As of August 2006, the Akash system has been tested 16 times since January 2005, including two crossing targets taken with live warheads. Akash has multiple-targeting handling capacity, with digitally coded command guidance. Demonstration of simultaneous target intercept capability against two live aerial targets was successfully conducted in Nov 2005.

The Akash Weapon System architecture is based on a Group Headquarters and a number of batteries. The system is customized on tracked or wheeled chassis to provide area air defense against multifarious air treats to mobile, semi-mobile and static vulnerable forces and areas. The Akash air defence group sanitizes a large volume of air space over the combat zone. The system can be operated either in the autonomous mode or in the Group Mode. The Akash Group consists of surveillance radars, Control Centres, phased array tracking and missile guidance radars, launchers and ground support equipment.
Surveillance Sensor (3 D CAR) is capable of detecting and tracking aerial targets upto a range of 150kms and altitude of 18 kms. It provides coordinates in three dimensions of upto 200 targets to the Group Control Centre (GCC) through secure communication links. The data is used to cue the weapon control radar.