India is ready to induct Akash surface to air missile

The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has said that the indigenously built surface-to-air Akash missile is ready for induction.

Bangalore/Coimbatore, Feb 9 : The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has said that the indigenously built surface-to-air Akash missile is ready for induction.

Addressing a news conference here, Chief Controller (R and D), Dr. Prahlada said: "We are ready for induction. There are many countries which have contacted us...we will go ahead. It's a unique missile because there is no missile which they make to meet India's requirement".

"Now when talking about the Patriot (Air Defense Missile System), one of the most talked about multiple target capable missile, the Akash is more mobile, much cheaper and more advanced. Russia also has surface-to-air missiles which are much more advanced compared to Russian technologies,"

The Akash missile has already received the Government's approval after undergoing a series of trials since 1990. It can hit targets up to 25km away and carry a payload of 55kg.

The Akash was first test-fired in November 2007.

Meanwhile, in Coimbatore, Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and Managing Director of BrahMos Aerospace, said efforts were on to incorporate the missile in submarines and aircrafts.

"The power, precision and spread of this missile today dominates the world. We are trying to now incorporate the system in submarines as well as aircrafts," Pillai said."

The three-tonne Brahmos, which has a range of 290 km, is an anti-ship missile, capable of engaging land-based targets.

It is nine metres (26 feet) in length and carries a conventional warhead weighing about 200 kg.

Brahmos can reach a speed of Mach 2.823 (970 metres per second), almost three times the speed of sound, and can be launched from land, ships, submarines and aircrafts.

ANI