Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Akash missile defence system has been commended for its role in neutralising Pakistani drones, missiles, and loitering munitions, showcasing its precision and rapid response in India's Operation Sindoor.
Akash - a medium-range, mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system - is produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and aligns with India's
Designed to protect vulnerable areas and assets from aerial threats, it is a cornerstone of the country's 96 per cent indigenous air defence.
Let's take an overview of Akash:
Standard Akash: 4.5 km to 25–30 km (some variants up to 45 km).
Akash-NG (Next Generation): 50–80 km, with enhanced range and precision.
Altitude: Up to 18,000–20,000 meters (standard); Akash-NG can engage at higher altitudes.
Akash missile can carry upto 60 kg high-explosive, pre-fragmented warhead with a proximity fuse. It holds the capacity to engage multiple aerial threats simultaneously, including fighter jets, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles, and air-to-surface missiles.
Akash-NG has been designed with the purpose of countering stealth aircraft and high-speed missiles.
Also Read: S-500 vs S-400: What sets Russia's next-gen SAM apart?
A look at Radar, Response Time:
Rajendra 3D Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) radar, capable of tracking 64 targets and guiding eight missiles to attack up to four targets at once.
Response Time: Fully automatic with a detection-to-kill cycle of 9–10 seconds.
Role in Operation Sindoor:
Successfully deployed during Operation Sindoor, Akash intercepted Pakistani drones, missiles, and reportedly an F-16 fighter jet, protecting 15 military installations across 1,800 km of airspace from Jammu to Bhuj.
Akash has a multi-target engagement and demonstrated the ability to engage four aerial targets simultaneously at 25 km using a single firing unit, a global first by the Indian Air Force in 2023. One missile has an 88 per cent kill probability; two missiles in succession achieve nearly 99 per cent.
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