INDIAN AKASH (SKY) MISSILE DESTROY AIRCRAFT, MISSILE AND DRONS

INDIAN AKASH (SKY) MISSILE DESTROY

 AIRCRAFT, MISSILE AND DRONS 

It is a mid-range surface-to-air missile 

The Akash (sky) is a mid-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system Development by efence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The missile was developed under the integrated guided-missile development programme (IGMDP). Two versions of the missile are being built for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army (IA). The IAF has ordered 1,000 Akash missiles and the IA 2,000 missiles. The Indian Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) requested the army version of the Akash missile system. In May 2012, the Indian Air Force successfully test-fired the Akash missile from the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur, Orissa, India.

 The missile has since been successfully test fired in ripple mode against a floating object launched by a pilotless target aircraft in May 2014.The Akash SAM system can employ multiple air targets while operating in fully autonomous mode.The system features a launcher, a missile, a control centre, an integral mission guidance system, a multifunctional fire control radar, a system arming and explosion mechanism, a digital autopilot, C4I (command, control communication and intelligence) centres and supporting ground equipment. Each Akash battery includes four 3D passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radars and four self-propelled launchers with three missiles each, all of which are interconnected. It also has battery level radar known as Rajendra, as well as a battery control centre.

 It can track and attack multiple targets concurrently. A self-destructive device is also integrated into the missile. The Akash system protects a moving procession of vehicles using an electronic counter countermeasures (ECCM) system. Akash was also tested in ballistic missile role and offers air defence missile coverage of 2,000km The missile is capable of destroying aircraft within the range from 30km to 35km, and at altitudes up to 18,000m.

It renders multidirectional and multi-target area defence. It can carry conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 60kg. The integration of nuclear warhead allows the missile to destroy aircraft and warheads released from ballistic missiles. It can operate in all weather conditions. Development of an advanced version, Akash MK-II, began in June 2010. The MK-II version is expected to be ready for user trials by 2018. The first Akash SAM production model for the Indian Army successfully destroyed a target in receding ting mode during two flight trails in February 2014. The army variation of the Akash uses the Rajendra radar, which can track 40 targets in range and azimuth with a tracking range up to 100km.

Missile

Akash is a surface-to-air missile with an intercept range of 30 km.  It has a launch weight of 720 kg, a diameter of 35 cm and a length of 5.78 metres. Akash flies at supersonic speed, reaching around Mach 2.5. It can reach an altitude of 18 km and can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms.  An on-board guidance system coupled with an actuator system makes the missile maneuverable up to 15g loads and a tail chase capability for end game engagement. the Akash missiles is classified in two types they are.

Specifications

S.NO	Type	Perameter
1	Class	Mobile Surface-to-air missile system
2	Place of origin	India
3	Used by	Indian Army Indian Air Force
4	Designer	DRDO
5	Manufacturer	Ordnance Factories Board Bharat Dynamics Bharat Electronics
6	Produced	2009-present
7	No. built	3000 missiles
8	Length	578cm
9	Diameter	35 cm
10	Warhead	High-explosive, pre-fragmented warhead
11	Warhead weight	60kg
12	Propellant	integral rocket motor/ramjet booster and sustainer motor
13	Operational range	30km
14	Flight ceiling	18km
15	Speed	Mach 2.5
16	Guidance system	Command guidance

Mark-I

Two Akash missiles intercepted two fast moving targets in simultaneous engagement mode in 2005. 3-D Central Acquisition Radar (3D-CAR) group mode performance is also fully established. The Akash Missile Development cost of ₹ 1,000crore (€150 million; $200 million), including the project sanction of ₹ 600 crore (€90 million; $120 million), is 8-10 times lower than the cost of similar system developments in other countries. Akash has certain unique characteristics like mobility, all-the-way-powered flight till target interception, multiple target handling, digitally-coded command guidance and fully automatic operation.".

Mark-II

As reported on 11 June 2010, Akash Mk-II version has begun development and will be ready for a first flight in 24 months. The Akash Mk-II will be a longer-range, faster and more accurate SAM.

The missile will have an intercept range of 30–35 km and increase in the accuracy of the missile's guidance system and the fire control system. Putting a seeker on board to allow the Akash Mk-II to operate over a larger profile is one of the options being considered.

System

Each Akash battery consists of four self-propelled Launchers (3 Akash SAMs each), a Battery Level Radar - the Rajendra, and a Command post (Battery Control Centre). Two batteries are deployed as a Squadron (Air Force), while up to four form an Akash Group . In both configurations, an extra Group Control Centre (GCC) is added, which acts as the Command and Control HQ of the Squadron or Group. Based on a single mobile platform, GCC establishes links with Battery Control Centres and conducts air defense operations in coordination with air defense set up in a zone of operations. For early warning, the GCC relies on the Central Acquisition Radar. However, individual batteries can also be deployed with the cheaper, 2-D BSR (Battery Surveillance Radar) with a range of over 100 km.

Radars

The missile is guided by a phased array fire control radar called 'Rajendra' which is termed as Battery Level Radar (BLR) with a tracking range of about 60 km. The tracking and missile guidance radar configuration consists of a slewable phased array antenna of more than 4000 elements, spectrally pure TWT transmitter, two stage superhetrodyne correlation receiver for three channels, high speed digital signal processor, real time management computer and a powerful radar data processor.

 It can track 64 targets in range, azimuth and height and guide eight missiles simultaneously in ripple fire mode towards four targets. The radar has advanced ECCM features. The Rajendra derivative on BMP-2 chassis and to be used by the Indian Air Force is known as the Battery Level Radar-II whereas that for the Army, is based on a T-72 chassis and is known as the Battery Level Radar-III.

    The Army version also consists of the Battery Surveillance Radar (BSR). BSR is a track vehicle based, long range sensor, interfaced with the BCC. It can detect and track up to 40 targets in range and azimuth up to a range of 100 km. Long range target acquisition is performed by the 3D Central Acquisition Radar (3D CAR), which is a long range surveillance radar that can track up to 200 targets in Track while Scan mode (detecting, tracking and processing) in three dimensions at a range of 180 km. It provides azimuth, range and height coordinates of targets to the Group Control Centre (GCC) through secure communication links. The data is used to cue the weapon control radar.

Propulsion

The Akash, like the Russian 2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful), utilizes an integrated ramjet-rocket propulsion system, which provides thrust for the missile throughout most of its flight. Because this missile has an integrated ram-rocket, maneuverability is highest. The engine is 'on' throughout the flight. The thrust is on till the missile intercepts the target. Most other surface-to-air missiles, including the U.S. Patriot and the Russian S-300 series, use solid-fuel rocket propulsion.

Used by Indian Air Force

In December 2007, the Indian Air Force completed user trials for this missile. The trials, which were spread over ten days, were declared successful after the missile hit the target on five occasions. Multiple targets handling capability of Akash weapon system was demonstrated by live firing in C4I environment. Before the ten-day trial at Chandipur, ECCM Evaluation tests were carried out at Gwalior Air force base and mobility trials were carried out in Pokhran. The IAF had evolved the user Trial Directive to verify the Akash's consistency. The following trials were conducted: Against low-flying near-range target, long-range high-altitude target, crossing and approaching target and ripple firing of two missiles from the same launcher against a low-altitude receding target.

Used by Indian army

In June 2010, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) placed an order of the Akash missile system, valued at ₹12,500 crore ($2.8 billion). Bharat Dynamics (BDL) will be the system integrator and nodal production agency for the Akash Army variant. The Army plans to induct two regiments of the missile. In March 2011, a report indicates that the Indian Army has ordered 2 Akash regiments – approximately 2,000 missiles – worth ₹14,000 crore. These will replace the Indian Army's 2 SA-6 Groups (25 systems with 1,500 missiles), which were inducted between 1977 and 1979.