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The Indian Air Force has told the Indian defence ministry that it does not want homegrown Akash surface-to-air theatre missiles in its present configuration because the Akash missiles are not successful in hitting on low altitude.
In April this year, the Indian Air Force ordered two squadrons of the homegrown Akash surface-to-air missile but the acquisition process has run into rough weather as the Indian Air Force has told the Indian defence ministry that the Akash missile needs changes so that it is able to effectively hit below 500 meters.
The Indian Air Force has also told the Indian defence ministry that future requirements of its theatre missiles of the Akash configuration should be met from overseas sources.
So far the Indian Air Force has ordered only two squadrons of Akash missile systems though there is a total requirement of around eight squadrons. A squadron has 18 batteries, and the IAF requirement for the Akash type of missile is estimated at five to seven squadrons. A single battery can engage multiple targets simultaneously.
Though the Defence Research and Development Laboratory which has developed the Akash missiles claims that the missile is effective in hitting targets from treetop level to a height of 18 Kilometers the Indian Air Force has said, that the Akash missile’s capability of intercepting targets below 500 meters is questionable.
The medium-range surface-to-air missile with an intercept range of 30km has a launch weight of 720 kg, a diameter of 35 cm and a length of 5.8 meters and can fly at supersonic speed, reaching around 2.5 Mach.
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