Akash missile

Akash SAM Test Firing

Akash (Sanskrit for Sky, sometimes spelt Aakash) is under development as part of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) which was launched in 1983 to achieve self-sufficiency in the area of missiles. Akash is a mobile area defense medium-range medium and high altitude surface-to-air missile with a range of 27 to 30 kilometers. The missile has a height ceiling of 18,000 meters and is capable of detecting and destroying aircraft flying at tree top height. The missile has a solid rocket booster stage, followed by a Ramjet engine, and weighs about 700 kg, with a 60 kg warhead.

The missile system has been through several trials at the Interim Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Orissa, and had, until recently, only met with moderate success. In November 2004, however, trials conducted with a live warhead and active terminal radar navigation achieved repeatable performance against test targets.

The missile systems fire control radar is a multi-target and multi-function phased array radar called 'Rajendra' with a range of about 60 km.

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Categories: Surface-to-air missiles | Indian Missiles | Rockets and missiles | Weapons of India