Bharat Electronics (BEL) has inked a lucrative deal with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the manufacture of medium range, surface-to-air (SAM) Akash missiles.

The company has also secured the delivery of critical sub-systems from Larsen & Toubro, Tata Power, Walchand Industries and ECIL. 

The indigenous 700kg missile was jointly designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and BEL. The Akash, which travels at 600 metres per second, is capable of engaging a wide variety of targets, including UAVs, aircraft and projectiles. The missile can reportedly carry a nuclear or conventional payload of 50-60kg and has a maximum range of 25-30 kilometers. Deployment options are varied and include both tracked and wheeled vehicles, or static and mobile platforms - such as a battle tank.

According to Global Security, the Indian SAM is powered by a ram rocket propulsion and air breathing engine. The Akash apparently evades electronic jamming via sophisticated electronic counter-measure equipment. The missile system's fire control system, known as Rajendra, is piloted by a multi-target and multi-function phased array radar with an approximate range of 60-km.

As IT Examiner previously reported, the crowded Indian defence market has led numerous officials to express concern over a perceived lack of indigenous self-reliance. Indeed, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Fali Homi Major recommended that New Delhi reduce its dependency on aerospace imports by embarking on a "strategic shift [that] will offer the required thrust towards building skills and infrastructure for engineering and manufacturing".

To this end, the MoD recently embarked on a number of new defence projects designed to reduce India's dependence on foreign imports. For example, the DRDO has confirmed plans to develop a medium-range and long- endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in collaboration with an Indian industry partner.

"To reduce the time for design, development and subsequent transfer of technology to an industry for bulk production of a MALE UAV, DRDO has been authorised to associate with a production and development partner (PADP) from eligible industries on a competitive basis," explained defence minister A K Antony.

According to Antony, the DRDO, which submitted a request for proposal (RFP), has already shortlisted four industry consortia via a "transparent process".

"The PADP would become the system integrator and provide product support after induction," added the defence minister.

Meanwhile, the Indian navy has asked the DRDO to upgrade a protective acoustic alarm system used to warn off hostile terrorist elements. The platform, which is composed of multiple sensors deployed around the perimeter of a ship, sounds a piercing siren when suspicious movements are detected.

The DRDO has also decided to accelerate its Nayan programme designed to provide multi-layer electronic protection for potential coastal targets. The new system will feature underwater sensors that transmit data to a land-based control room via a satellite or UAV. X

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