Akash Missile and Operation Sindoor: A Case Study in India’s Indigenous Air Defence Capabilities

Relevance: GS III: Sci and Tech

Introduction

In addition to accomplishing its short-term military goals, Operation Sindoor provided a compelling example of India’s superior defense capabilities over Pakistan. While India’s multi-layered air defense system has received the most attention due to its amazing success in neutralizing nearly all incoming missiles and drones, a number of other systems and technologies, many of which were developed domestically, have also performed admirably to give the Indian military a significant advantage.

Operation Sindoor

The accuracy with which India struck its targets, many of which were located deep within Pakistan, was a noteworthy aspect of Operation Sindoor. This was not only essential for accomplishing the military goal of eliminating terrorist strongholds, but it also demonstrated to the rest of the world that India was acting responsibly by minimizing collateral damage.

The Role of Akash Missile in Operation Sindoor

During Operation Sindoor last week, the locally produced Akash missile system played a crucial role in preventing Pakistan’s persistent aerial attacks. The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) created the mobile short-to-medium-range surface-to-air missile system known as Akash, which means “sky” in Sanskrit. The Indian Army and Air Force (IAF) are now using it.

Akash Missile System: An Overview

Akash is intended to protect vital installations and vulnerable locations with air defense. Multiple aerial targets, including hostile aircraft, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), can be engaged by the system at the same time.

Akash is 96% indigenous, according to the DRDO, which is one of the greatest percentages of indigeneity in sophisticated Indian weaponry. More than 250 firms produce and supply different Akash subsystems and components, with production orders being carried out by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited.

Technical Features of Akash

Central Acquisition Radar: The Eyes of the System

The airspace is scanned for possible threats by an integrated 3D Central Acquisition Radar. This radar has a 120 km coverage area in all directions and can measure a target’s elevation, azimuth, and range in three dimensions.

Rajendra Fire Control Radar: The Brain Behind the Precision

Rajendra is an advanced multi-function fire control radar with an 80-kilometer coverage area that guides the Akash missile. numerous targets can be tracked and numerous missiles can be guided at once by a single Rajendra radar. 

Command and Control Centre: Calculating the Kill Trajectory

The command and control center receives precise tracking information from the radar and uses it to determine the intercept trajectory.

Missile Launch System: Mobile and Ready for Rapid Fire

A mobile launcher, which can contain up to three missiles, is then used to fire the missile. The massive Akash missiles, which weigh over 700 kg and are propelled by a ramjet engine, can accelerate to Mach 2.5.

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Key Features of the Advanced Akash Missile System

• Next-Generation Design for Agile Aerial Threats: The Indian Air Force (IAF) uses this cutting-edge, new-generation surface-to-air missile (SAM) to eliminate aerial threats with great maneuverability and low radar cross section.
• AESA Multi-Function Radar: All-in-One Combat Module: This sophisticated version includes an active electronically scanned array (AESA) multi-function radar that combines search, tracking, and fire control onto a single platform.
• Superior Area Defence Capability: Compared to any short-range SAM, it can defend an area ten times more effectively and engage up to ten targets at once.

Variants of Akash: Technological Advancements

The initial Akash missile type could reach heights of up to 18 km and had an operating range of 27 to 30 km.

• Akash Prime: Although it has the same effective range as the previous version, Akash Prime is significantly more reliable at higher elevations and in colder climates. The Army and IAF provided input that led to this development, as they intended to use the system to protect vital infrastructure in high-altitude areas.
• Akash-NG: The New Generation Akash-NG missile has also undergone successful testing by the DRDO. This is intended to help the IAF detect airborne threats with low radar cross sections (RCS) and high maneuverability. An item’s radar detectability is measured by its radar signature, or RCS; the higher the RCS, the easier it is for radar to find the object. Due to factors including design and material, fifth-generation stealth fighters have extremely minimal RCSs.

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Source: Story of India’s Akash missiles that nullified Pakistan’s aerial attacks

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