Akash Surface-to-air Missile

Steven Rogers

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never believe the news as it is. Take it with a pinch of salt. Akash, is a hybrid solid fuel first stage and liquid fuel ramjet second stage right? Just like Brahmos. Assume that Brahmos and Akash have similar engines, though I believe the engines are one in the same. Both do 2.5 mach etc...
so we do the math.
Brahmos with range of 250KM though we know its like 400 or 700 KM. And a weight of 3 tons
250km/3000 tons is = 0.083 x 720kg Akash weight = 60 KM for Akash range give or take. Thats a pretty good number no where near 25 km on brochure?
do the same math with Akash figs
25 km / 720 kg = 0.035 x 3000 tons of Brahmos and you get 100 km. Not at all the range of Brahmos is it?
Akash is understated range. Real range is 60km+. Meaning its a very long range SAM. Its got room for growth in tracking etc... but limited BMD capabilities as its an air breathing engine. I'd expect newer versions of Akash to have seekers, longer range AESA radars and network centric capabilities to make use of such long ranges. Which would be why Navy is interested in the missile although Navy would also BMD missiles as well.
Their is a difference bw Indian ramjet burnout time and Russian ramjet burnout time, Akash at best is 30kms Sam while acc to Gov data Akash NG is a 50km range SAM. They are medium range Sam not long range.

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HariPrasad-1

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Akash's drawback is that its small range puts it withing enemy ARM's range. Pakistan recently purchased some Brazilian ARMs. China also has KH-31P ARMs (same as India).
New Akash with seeker is already tested and in all likelyhood it will have a range of atleast 50 km or even 70 km. Our latest QR sam has a range of 30 km. Had we not made Akash, we would not have made all these new missiles. New version of Akash shall keep coming which shall be faster, more agile and will higher envelope against incoming objects. We are on the path now and we have caught up with best missile technology. now we shall keep producing new versions and they will keep coming very fast with passage of time.
 

Rahul Singh

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New Akash with seeker is already tested and in all likelyhood it will have a range of atleast 50 km or even 70 km. Our latest QR sam has a range of 30 km. Had we not made Akash, we would not have made all these new missiles. New version of Akash shall keep coming which shall be faster, more agile and will higher envelope against incoming objects. We are on the path now and we have caught up with best missile technology. now we shall keep producing new versions and they will keep coming very fast with passage of time.
In Akash battery, both BSR and FCR might not be placed close to each other. They are spread favourably in such a way that firing units are placed much ahead or Radars. This is how Akash has been placed around areas of interests especially close to borders.

Which is to say any ARM fired against it will have to engage both BSR and FCR(in most cases only it will be targeted) at ranges excess of 30 kms. How much IAF won't disclose? But with fully networked Radars that IAF has almost done completing. A situation could be like in which Akash Battery will be alerted by central command about the incoming enemy and Akash Battery switching its FCR only at last moment to target an intruder. That's for Akash MK-1 only. Mk-2 with greater range and active seeker could do that more effectively.

Only real if Askash FCR and also BSR has good ECCM. The answer is yes. IAF is very impressed with it.
 

Steven Rogers

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In Akash battery, both BSR and FCR might not be placed close to each other. They are spread favourably in such a way that firing units are placed much ahead or Radars. This is how Akash has been placed around areas of interests especially close to borders.

Which is to say any ARM fired against it will have to engage both BSR and FCR(in most cases only it will be targeted) at ranges excess of 30 kms. How much IAF won't disclose? But with fully networked Radars that IAF has almost done completing. A situation could be like in which Akash Battery will be alerted by central command about the incoming enemy and Akash Battery switching its FCR only at last moment to target an intruder. That's for Akash MK-1 only. Mk-2 with greater range and active seeker could do that more effectively.

Only real if Askash FCR and also BSR has good ECCM. The answer is yes. IAF is very impressed with it.
Akash MK2 will get all new AESA FCR and AESA surveillance radar.

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Twinblade

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Is Akash really worth the hype?
Yes.

1)It's range is 30 odd km.
30 Km of mostly powered flight. The NEZ (no escape zone) envelope of Akash is thus massive. It's overkill for MRLS / Glide bombs but impenetrable wall for maneuverable targets. Rajendra is massively overpowered for a system of this range with impressive resistance to jamming and deception. If the aircraft is in Akash's envelope, it's pretty much roast. It's still much better than the existing air defences.

2)There are glide bombs and air to surface missiles with ranges from 30-120km depending on release height.
Hence QRSAM, which will be much more efficient system for them.

3)Once our surveillance radar picks the plane from 100-150 km,then the plane releases the ordinance and turns back then we need to wait for the ordinance to come near to our range and shoot the ordinanc.But we can't shoot the plane because it's not in our range.
Hence interceptor aircrafts, MRSAM / LRSAM and XRSAM. Layered air defences

4)If we keep akash near border it will be pounded by the MLRS.
If long range systems were all that was needed, russians wouldn't have Buk, Israel wouldn't have SpyDer, nor the french have Aster.
 

Prashant12

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Army to get ‘enhanced’ Akash missiles

MUMBAI, MAY 4

The Akash surface-to-air missile defence system is once again in the news with the Army looking to order another batch, despite having previously discarded the idea in favour of Israel’s quick-reaction surface-to-air missiles (QR-SAMs).

Confirming that a new order is in the works, a Defence Ministry official said the missiles would be “greatly enhanced” to perform to their fullest capability.

Capabilities

“Akash can fly at supersonic speeds, ranging from Mach 2.8 to 3.5, and engage aerial targets up to a range of 30 km. The kill probability of the missile is 88 per cent and can be increased to 98.5 per cent by launching a second missile after five seconds of launching the first. These features will enhance the system,” said the official. The indigenous missile was officially inducted into the Indian Army in 2015. Though the Army initially planned to add additional Akash batteries, repeat instances of the system not meeting operational requirements as it failed mobility tests, led the Army to announce in 2016 that it would not order any more batteries.

Ministry order

The decision dealt a body blow to state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which designed and is developing the missile. However, last year, the Defence Ministry cancelled a global tender for surface-to-air missile system in favour of the Akash missile system.

Russia’s Rosonboronexport, Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and Swedish Saab were competing for the tender, with decisions weighing in favour of Israel’s QR-SAMs.

At the same time, the ministry also allocated $2.8 billion for the procurement of two regiments of the Akash missile systems for the Indian Army. A regiment has 240/288 launchers and 625/750 missiles.

Developed under the integrated guided-missile development programme (IGMDP), which also involved the development of the Nag, Agni and Trishul missiles, as well as the Prithvi ballistic missile, the Akash missile has an indigenous content of 96 per cent.

“Last year, Akash was tested successfully with an indigenous seeker for the first time. This has given us the confidence to make any type of surface-to-air missile,” said a DRDO official, pointing out that it is the first indigenous weapon system developed by the DRDO to get production orders worth more than ₹25,000 crore.

As of now, 8/8 squadrons of Akash missile systems have been delivered and inducted into the IAF. “All Akash systems are independently operated by the IAF and the Army,” the official said.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/army-to-get-enhanced-akash-missiles/article23776393.ece
 

Brij Ray

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The above article says that Akash can fly at supersonic speeds, ranging from Mach 2.8 to 3.5. WOW! Can it shoot down Brahmos then?
 

Chinmoy

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The above article says that Akash can fly at supersonic speeds, ranging from Mach 2.8 to 3.5. WOW! Can it shoot down Brahmos then?
Nothing WOW about it. Every SAM is capable of that speed.

Given all the 100 parameters of an engagement is 100% perfect, any SAM could take down BRAHMOS.
 

Brij Ray

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Nothing WOW about it. Every SAM is capable of that speed.

Given all the 100 parameters of an engagement is 100% perfect, any SAM could take down BRAHMOS.
this is NEWS to me. I have always read and heard that the biggest plus point of Brahmos is it's speed which cannot be countered by any SAM in the world.
 

Chinmoy

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this is NEWS to me. I have always read and heard that the biggest plus point of Brahmos is it's speed which cannot be countered by any SAM in the world.
Thats why I used the second line........

Even if you miss one parameter, it would be hard to take it down.
 

Kshithij

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this is NEWS to me. I have always read and heard that the biggest plus point of Brahmos is it's speed which cannot be countered by any SAM in the world.
Thats why I used the second line........

Even if you miss one parameter, it would be hard to take it down.
Brahmos does not maneuver. It is fast but goes in a straight line. It is not hard to intercept a missile which does not maneuver much. If a plane that can travel at 1.5-2mach and maneuver well can be intercepted, intercepting brahmos is not a problem
 

lcafanboy

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Brahmos does not maneuver. It is fast but goes in a straight line. It is not hard to intercept a missile which does not maneuver much. If a plane that can travel at 1.5-2mach and maneuver well can be intercepted, intercepting brahmos is not a problem
You are wrong here. Brahmos is manouverable during terminal phase and it's the only missile that can do nearly 90 degree dive which is very difficult to intercept.
 

Zer0

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You are wrong here. Brahmos is manouverable during terminal phase and it's the only missile that can do nearly 90 degree dive which is very difficult to intercept.
I think we're working on 90 degree, its still not achieved.
 

Kshithij

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You are wrong here. Brahmos is manouverable during terminal phase and it's the only missile that can do nearly 90 degree dive which is very difficult to intercept.
The terminal phase is just 7-8km or less. Almost all interception missiles fire much earlier. Interception happens at a bit further point and hence the final maneuverability may not be enough. In case of ships, the sea is flat and hence sea skimming is possible. But in case of land, terrain has many ups and downs and hence missiles have to fly much higher and hence are easier to detect by air defence

I think we're working on 90 degree, its still not achieved.
Brahmos achieved step dive capacity to strike targets hiding behind mountains too. It has been proven
 

jik60

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Can anyone confirm weather the IAF got there 2nd tranche of Akash SAMs compromised of 7 sqrdns ?

Right now IAF is operating with 8 sqrdns of Akash.
 

Prashant12

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BDL expectsRs 14k cr worth Akash-II Missile order from Def


Hyderabad, Jun 26Bharat Dynamic Limited (BDL) expects Akash-II missile order worth about Rs 14,000 crore in the next couple of years from the central government,said a top official of theDefence PSU.

Chairman and Managing Director of BDL, VUday Bhasker also said the current order of Akash will be completed in the next two years and expected to have five growth in revenues during the next two years.

Last year the PSU clocked Rs 4579 crore.

"We are tryinghave a five per centannualgrowth in the coming couple of years. After that we areexpectingto have a much bigger growthbecause weexpectto have some high value orders. AkashIIregiments isthenew order. TheDAC( Defence Acquisition Council)hasclearedit."

"That(new)order, weneed to supply from2020-21 onwards.The order is for a few years. It will be a bigger order, I can't specificallytellthe size of the order. But it will be of the current order size. Currently we hadAkash orderworthRs 14,000 crore in 2012 whenwe received it," Bhasker told PTI.

Akashisan all-weather medium-range surface-to-air missile.

Developed by the DRDO, the missile system has the capability to neutralise aerial targets such as fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles.

BDL,in 2011signed a Rs 14,000-crore contract with the Indian Army for the production of Akash.

The present order will be completed in the next two years.

He, however, said theneworderwill have some development componentand ithas togo through some development phase.

The missile should have seeker, which is a specialised instrument which seeks the target, he added.

Replying to a query, the BDL official said he expects five per cent growth in revenues for the next couple of years.

On the upcoming Amaravati facility in Maharashtra, Bhasker said it is expected to commission from thisyear and full scale production will start from 2021.

BDLis also setting up a manufacturing facility in Ibrhimpatnam near Hyderabad.

Thecompany'sproposed Ibrahimapatnam and Amravati manufacturing facilities will be utilised to manufacture new generation of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) respectively.

BDL currently has an order book of Rs 8,860 crores.

Rs 4,500 croreworth of orderswill be executed this yearwhileanother Rs 2000 crores next year.

"However, we are also expecting an order inflow this year. We are expecting around Rs 3000 crores of fresh orders by March this fiscal," he added.

BDL also started exploring overseas markets and exported Torpedoes to some countries.

Citing "sensitivity," theofficial refused to divulge the names of the countries that the product was exported.

https://www.outlookindia.com/newssc...-worth-akashii-missile-order-from-def/1337837
 

no smoking

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You are wrong here. Brahmos is manouverable during terminal phase
Less maneuverable than other slower cruise missile. Missile is system balanced between speed, maneuverability, accuracy, stealthy. With the same technology level, you can only enhance one part at the cost of other parts. The fact that Russia deployed a lot of slower supersonic cruise missiles but reject Brahmos tells how this missile was designed.

it's the only missile that can do nearly 90 degree dive which is very difficult to intercept.
Because it is the only supersonic cruise missile deployed in a mountain battle environment. Other countries generally choose cheaper ballistic missile to do the same job.
 

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