L&T delivers 1000th Akash propulsion system hardware
L&T Defence has delivered the 1,000th integrated propulsion airframe system to Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) under its agreement as part of the Akash missile programme, the company announced on 19 May.
Akash, an all-weather medium-range surface-to-air missile system (SAM), provides multi-directional and multi-target area defence against medium-range air threats from low, medium and high altitudes. The missile can be launched from static or mobile platforms, such as tracked or wheeled vehicles, providing deployment flexibility.
The SAM system is capable of engaging multiple targets including UAVs, fighter aircraft, cruise missiles and missiles launched from helicopters. The weapon system is used by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army.
The integrated propulsion airframe system comprises sustainer and booster motors (Section IV & V) integrated with 112 other sub-assemblies and components. L&T Defence partnered with the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) for prototype and production of the sustainer and booster motors.
Jayant Patil, director of defence and a member of the L&T board, said: ‘We have been associated with the Akash missile programme right from the development stage since 1987.
‘As a long-term development partner to Defence Research & Development Organisation, we have been following one team approach with DRDL as well as BDL to speed up the industrialisation phase of the Akash programme. These joint efforts have been primarily instrumental in progressing the Akash programme from the development to series production phase in a seamless manner.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
Engineering and design mean smaller vehicles can be tank killers but is it a good idea?
The eulogy for the dedicated tank hunter or buster appears to have been written with most armies putting them out to retirement in the face of alternatives like longer-range missiles or uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). However, arming infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) or armoured personnel carriers (APCs) with medium-range missiles seems to indicate some kind of tank killer is required.
-
Light tanks for Slovakia – cost-effective alternative or false economy?
Slovakia is currently considering replacing its Soviet era main battle tanks (MBTs) with lighter alternatives. However, the lower cost of these platforms may prove to be a false economy if they cannot compete with true MBTs.
-
How can multiple domains act as one?
How can we sense, make sense, and act faster than the adversary?
-
FNSS adds punch to Pars to increase appeal
FNSS’s Pars family of vehicles is looking to capitalise on export growth as it increases the punch of its 4×4 Wheeled Armoured Combat Vehicle (WACV).
-
Spira’s Ilgar loitering munition in service
Armed forces are now procuring large numbers of loitering munitions with many developers having evolved their own designs to meet this burgeoning demand. Turkey’s Spira is one such company and is fulfilling contracts and developing new missiles.
-
Could the Ajax IFV solve the UK’s Warrior capability gap?
With the UK facing an imminent capability gap after the retirement of its Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), the Ajax IFV appears to be in a prime position to fill that gap.