IAF To Get Akash Missiles This Year

BY: AviationWeek

For the first time, Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) is integrating various systems for the Rs 10,000 crore ($2.6 billion) Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) project.

BEL Chairman and Managing Director A.K. Datt told Aviation Week that the first phase of deliveries to the Indian air force (IAF) would begin this year. The IAF has placed orders for two squadrons, and BEL is expecting to provide for four more squadrons soon after the initial delivery schedule is complete.

BEL sources confirmed to Aviation Week that the Indian army also may order a different variant of the missile for two of its squadrons.

“There are many agencies involved in the Akash program, and our job is to integrate all the systems and subsystems and then ship to the desired destination,” a source said.

The first two squadrons of IAF missiles will consist of 48 units each. “The numbers for the future squadrons would be different, and it is left to the customer to decide on that,” the source added, declining to provide a firm number for future orders.

Developed as part of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Program by the Defense Research & Development Organization, Akash is an all-weather, medium-range, surface-to-air missile system. It has a multidirectional, multitarget area defense capability and can take on multiple air targets in a fully autonomous mode of operations.