BEL to get Rs 4,279-crore IAF order for Akash missiles

Indian Air Force seeks supply of 750 SAMs for six squadrons.

Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), the Bangalore-based public sector defence behemoth, will get an order from the Indian Air Force (IAF) for supply of an additional 750 Akash medium-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) for six squadrons. Each squadron will have 125 missiles and radars and the order is valued at Rs 4,279 crore.

“Earlier, there was a proposal to abandon the Akash missile system. But the IAF deployed it on a trial basis and is now happy with the system. After testing it in two squadrons last year, they have placed orders for six more squadrons. This shows the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and BEL are capable of producing equipment for our armed forces,” Defence Minister A K Antony said here on Tuesday.

He added BEL will deliver the Akash missile system to IAF in phases. The first order to supply 250 missiles was placed last year on a pilot basis. “The IAF has decided to deploy the weapon in more squadrons for optimal use,” he said.

BEL Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Kumar Datt said the value of the 250-missile order was Rs 1,221 crore.

Designed and developed by the state-run DRDO, the Akash missile system is part of the country’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. The missile can target an enemy aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes of up to 18,000 metres and can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms, according to Datt. The SAM is also capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear warheads, with a payload of 60 kg.

Tejas’ naval version cleared
Antony said the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has cleared the proposal for further development of the naval and air versions of the ‘Tejas’ Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and engine components.

“The CCS has cleared whatever was requested for the LCA project,” he said.

Meanwhile, the minister inaugurated BEL’s Digital Fly-by-wire Control Computer (DFCC) manufacturing facility and handed over a Gun Fire Control System (GFCS) to the Indian Navy. The GFCS is a quick reaction, multi-sensor, multi-weapon, short/medium/long-range defence system against air/surface/shore targets on board naval ships.

The DFCC is a multiple redundant (where one channel takes over if another fails, improving reliability) control that maneuvers an aircraft (pitch, yaw and roll).