'Akash' air missile inducted into Indian Army arsenal

The Indian Army inducted the 'Akash' missile system into its arsenal on Tuesday to protect the country from possible aerial threats.

It is a surface-to-air short range defence system that operates up to a maximum range of 25 kilometres and upto an altitude of 20 kilometers.

The missile system can detect aerial threats from enemy's fighter planes, helicopters, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. It can evaluate and track danger and is capable of launching missiles on the information obtained by the radar system.

Developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation, the Akash missile system is also capable of engaging multiple threats simultaneously and can provide comprehensive short range missile cover to the vulnerable assets in the field.

"Air defence or air threats have gone beyond the employment of aircrafts and helicopters. Hence we need to make sure that we have effective state-of-the-art air defence weapons systems," said Chief of Indian Army, General Dalbir Singh Suhag.

Suhag stressed that modernisation of the army is a key agenda in his mind, and air defence weapons system is one of the seven critical areas identified as part of modernisation.

He said that it was a great moment for the country.

"It is a matter of great pride for the nation that today indigenous state-of-the-art 'Akash' air defence weapon system is being inducted into the Indian Army . In fact, it marks the beginning of a new era for Indian Army and army air defence modernisation," said Suhag.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Government wants to upgrade its armed forces using indigenously-produced weapons and machinery.

India has ordered 36 'ready-to-fly' French-made Rafale fighter jets to modernise country's ageing warplane fleet.