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.’
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