Indian Army to Receive Indigenous Weapons, Akash-S Missiles

The Indian Army is planning to acquire several domestically-built weapon systems worth around Rupees 14,000 crore ($2 million) to boost its aerial defense capabilities.

The country’s Defence Acquisition Council will place orders for two regiments of Akash-S missiles and 25 advanced light helicopters, military sources told India Today. This equipment will increase India’s border defense capabilities.

The multimillion-dollar investment in new weapons systems will need the approval of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is expected to lead a high-level meeting to discuss the matter.

The Akash-S missile is a new variant of the Akash air defense missile system built by India’s state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is a mid-range surface-to-air missile that can hit multiple targets in fully autonomous mode.

The new missile features improved accuracy and can take down enemy aircraft and cruise missiles up to 25-30 kilometers (15-18 miles) away. It can also operate in extreme weather conditions. It is designed for longer-range targets and is capable of operating at very high altitudes.

The system consists of a launcher, a missile, a control center, multifunctional fire control radar, and an integral mission guidance system. It also has a digital autopilot and four 3D passive electronically scanned array radars.

Earlier this year, the DRDO held a successful test of the missile.