> Lighter, deadlier Gen Next flight-tested The missile will be offered for export; possibility of sales to east Asian and African countries

AJAI SHUKLA to 30 kilometres (km), but also , 21 July generates a high terminal velocity to strike even he Defence Research & the fastest and most agile ene- Development my fighters. TOrganisation (DRDO) The second major change successfully flight-tested the in the Akash-NG is its new “New Generation Akash seeker head, which has been Missile” (Akash-NG) on developed by the DRDO lab- Wednesday at the Integrated oratory, Research Centre Test Range (ITR) at Imarat (RCI). At the terminal in . phase of engagement, the “The flight trial was con- seeker locks onto the enemy ducted at 12:45 PM from a aircraft and continuously land-based platform with all guides the Akash-NG to weapon system elements such impact with the target. as multifunction , com- The phases of engagement mand, control and communi- are measured in seconds. The cation system Akash-NG detects and launcher The IAF earlier enemy fighters at participating in inducted seven ranges out to 80 deployment con- units of the Akash km and initiates figuration,” missile, while the the launch sequ - announced the army has inducted ence. By the time Ministry of two and has the enemy aircraft Defence (MoD). another two on is 50 km away, the order. Bharat The Indian Akash-NG’s com- pulse, solid rocket motor that  Rocket has been Air Force (IAF) Electronics Ltd puters have calcu- Akash factfile builds the Akash replaces the old on the re-engineered and brought and the army lated the launch  New-generation surface- already operate missile system trajectory and legacy Akash missile down from the legacy Akash’s for the IAF to-air missile with 30 km range 700 kg to a sleek 350 kg nine batteries of impact point and  The new motor generates a  the old Akash launched the mis- High manoeuvrability to high terminal velocity to strike  Missile a boost to air missile. This is now being sile. In just over a minute, the strike fast moving aircraft even the fastest and most agile defence capabilities of improved into the Akash-NG, missile blazes its way to the  which is engineered to shoot impact point 30 km away and Has a brand new, two- enemy fighters down extremely high-perform- destroys the target. ing fighter aircraft — or high- The Akash-NG rocket has manoeuvring, low radar cross- been re-engineered compre- air defence capability of the tor for the army. Cabinet approved exporting section aerial threats, as the hensively and brought down IAF,” stated the MoD. The MoD earlier anno unced the Akash missile system and, IAF calls them. from the legacy Akash’s 700 kg The IAF earlier inducted that indigenisation levels in the in January, the missile was on Two key improvements to to a sleek 350 kg. This not just seven units of the Akash mis- Akash are above 96 per cent. display in the the current Akash missile have increases range, but also lets sile, while the army has The IAF has part-funded the parade. There is a possibility transformed it into the Akash- the Akash-NG launcher and inducted two and has another development of the Akash-NG. of sales to east Asian countries, NG. The first is a brand new, replenishment vehicle carry two on order. Bharat Elect - The cost of the system would such as and the two-pulse, solid rocket motor more missiles. ronics Limited builds the reduce, were foreign govern- , that are wary of that replaces the old ramjet on “Once deployed, the Akash- Akash missile system for the ments to buy the economically Chinese aggression. There is the legacy Akash missile. The NG weapon system will prove IAF, while Bharat Dynamics priced, hardy missile. also interest from several new motor not just reaches out to be a force multiplier for the Limited is the prime integra- In December, the Union African countries.