Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), a Hyderabad-based Miniratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) has inked a Rs 499 crore contract with the Defence Ministry to manufacture indigenously developed ‘Akash Missiles’ to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
According to the official communique by BDL, the contract was signed by Air Commodore Ajay Singhal of the IAF and Commodore TN Kaul (Retd) on behalf of BDL along with BDL’s Director (Production) P Radhakrishna in New Delhi.
BDL’s Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) Commodore Siddharth Mishra (Retd) said, “BDL is supplying Akash Missiles to the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. With the announcement from the Union Cabinet regarding clearance of the ‘Akash’ weapon system for export, the company is exploring offering Akash for export to foreign countries.”
“The firm has already received export leads from foreign nations expressing their interest in procuring the missile. BDL has a well-established infrastructure and expertise to execute these orders and meet the customer delivery schedule,” he added.
Decoding Akash Missiles
Akash is an indigenously developed all-weather, air defence weapon missile, which uses a high explosive, pre-fragmented warhead that can engage multiple threats simultaneously. The medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile system has been developed by India’s state-owned Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO).
The Akash Surface to Air (SAM) system can engage with multiple air targets while operating in fully autonomous mode. The system comprises a launcher, a control centre, a multifunctional fire control radar, a system arming and explosion mechanism, a digital autopilot, C4I (command, control communication and intelligence) centres, ground equipment and an integral mission guidance system.
Designed to be launched from mobile platforms or static such as combat tanks and battle trucks, Akash missiles can handle multiple targets and destroy aerial targets, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), fighter aircraft, cruise missiles and missiles launched from helicopters.
India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme
Akash Missile has been developed under the integrated guided-missile development programme (IGMDP), the programme also involved the development of the Nag, Agni, Trishul missiles, and Prithvi ballistic missile.
Bharat Dynamics Limited has been a prime production agency for projects under the programme. Manufactured by BDL, Akash has been supplied to the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. The Missile has been successfully test-fired on several occasions and is regarded as one of the best missiles in its category.
Notably, BDL also makes Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, Air to Air Missiles, Air to Surface Weapons, Launchers, Test Equipment, Underwater weapons, and Counter Measure Systems.
In FY 2020-2021, BDL bagged new orders worth about Rs 2,803 crore which included Anti – Tank Guided Missiles order worth about Rs 1,820 crore and Surface to Air Missiles order worth about Rs 793 crore.
Notably, BDL is expanding its footprints globally by offering Air-to-Air Missiles, Anti-Tank Guided missiles, underwater weapons, and Counter Measure Systems in addition to Akash Missiles to foreign countries.
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