Latest news with #IntegratedGuidedMissileDevelopmentProgramme
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
This ex-DRDO scientist spent his entire career building ‘Akash' missile system
It is no secret that Hyderabad is the base for key DRDO projects and many products developed here have played a stellar role in the recent confrontation with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. One such was the short range surface-to-air missile 'Akash' that turned out to be the bulwark, along with other weapons systems, against the spree of drones and missiles fired from across the border during the tense period. 'Akash, which was indigenously built from scratch, was used in combat zone for the first time and has proved to be robust and effective. The automated missile system caught the other countries by surprise,' exults former project director Gaddamanugu Chandramouli, who spent his entire 34 years of career in its development. The missile, fired from mobile platforms, can neutralise a variety of targets simultaneously, including fighter jets, choppers, UAVs, subsonic cruise missiles, smart bombs with supersonic speed and automated air defence functions irrespective of the altitude or size, says the ex- DRDO's outstanding scientist. Hailing from Madhira (Khammam, Telangana), a mechanical engineering graduate from NIT Warangal and M. Tech. from IIT Delhi, was part of the maiden team of three members, when noted scientist Prahalad Rama Rao, was entrusted with making the Akash missile system by former President A.P. J. Abdul Kalam while heading the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. 'Kalam used to say 'first develop technology', the rest will follow. From design to ground based radar system, propulsion and weapon head, it was a 14-year work, throughout the week in the lab. We faced many failures at various stages. But to develop and supply at least something to our armed forces egged us on,' explains Mr. Chandramouli. 'Very few were ready to believe that we will come up with a potent missile that would become the mainstay for our country's defence system. There was cynicism all over. We were put up to scrutiny at every stage, yet we were calm, patient and persevering,' he recalls. As a core member of Project Akash in DRDL-DRDO, the scientist led many teams from various organisations contributing towards successful accomplishment of design, development, flight testing and user trials since inception in 1983 till superannuation in 2018. The first successful flight was in 1994 and final evaluation trials in 2006-07 before Akash was formally inducted both in the Indian Army (2015) and Indian Air Force (2015) under his leadership. Thus, India could become only the second country after Russia to have the capability to design, develop and produce solid ramjet propulsion based supersonic missiles. 'Kalam and other leaders created an ecosystem, where there were no egos, only goals. I learned many things from Kalam, Prahlada Rama Rao, R.R. Panyam, G.N. Rao, Ajit Chaudhary and many others, helping me execute this mega project. There was team work, transparency, support and motivation among us to surmount hurdles,' he avers. After becoming the project director in 2011, Mr. Chandramouli streamlined production, delivery and induction of Akash into the armed forces, coordinating with 13 DRDO labs, nine defence production units and five ordnance factories to transfer complex technologies to local industries for production. The scientist is also getting ready with a book chronicling Project Akash.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Indian Express
Story of India's Akash missiles that nullified Pakistan's aerial attacks
The indigenously developed Akash missile system was pivotal in thwarting Pakistan's sustained aerial attacks during Operation Sindoor last week. Akash ('sky' in Sanskrit) is a mobile short-to-medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and currently in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army. Here's its story. Made in India Akash is designed to provide air defence cover to the vulnerable areas and critical installations. The system can simultaneously engage multiple aerial targets such as enemy aircraft, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The development of Akash began in the late 1980s as a part of the DRDO's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. The early systems trials, field trials and target neutralisation trials were conducted in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These were followed by the extensive user trials by the IAF and Army; the IAF inducted Akash into in 2014, and the Army in 2015. Both the IAF and the Army currently have multiple squadrons/groups operating the missile system. The DRDO claims that Akash is 96% indigenous — one of the highest proportions of indigeneity in advanced Indian weapon systems. More than 250 industries are engaged in the production and supply of various subsystems and components of Akash, with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited executing production orders. How Akash works An integrated 3D Central Acquisition Radar scans the airspace for potential threats. According to BEL's website, this radar provides three-dimensional measurements of range, azimuth and elevation of a target, and has a coverage of 120 km in any direction. The Akash missile is guided by a sophisticated multi-function fire control radar named Rajendra, which has a coverage of 80 km. A single Rajendra radar can track multiple targets, and guide multiple missiles simultaneously. Precise tracking data from the radar goes to the command and control centre which calculates the intercept trajectory. A missile is then fired from a mobile launcher — one launcher can hold up to three missiles. Propelled by a ramjet engine, the more than 700 kg heavy Akash missiles can reach speeds of up to Mach 2.5. An on-board seeker takes over to home in on a moving threat once the missile is close enough. The Akash boasts high missile manoeuvrability (the ability to alter its flight path during flight), which improves the system's overall efficiency. Moreover, Akash's 55 kg pre-fragmented warhead is activated by proximity fuse, meaning that the missile can cause significant damage even if it does not score a direct hit. What makes Akash potent ACCURACY: Akash hangs its hat on accuracy, and its overall efficiency in taking down targets. This is a product of its targeting system, its missile manoeuvrability, and quick response time from target detection to kill. The Rajendra radar can even track objects flying on very low trajectories — something that radars have traditionally struggled with — throughout their course. MOBILITY: The entire weapon system — comprising a launcher and a set of missiles, a control centre, a built-in mission guidance system and a C4I (command, control, communication and intelligence) centres, supporting ground equipment, and the Rajendra radar — has been configured on a mobile platform. Akash, by design, provides for quick mobilisation, deployment, and redeployment, and can easily be moved around on road or rail. RESILIENCE: Akash has built-in electronic counter-counter measures (ECCM) features, making it resilient to enemy electronic counter measures (ECM). The system has a high immunity against active and passive jamming by enemies, BEL's website says. ECM refers to techniques meant to nullify or deceive radar, sonar, infrared or other detection systems such that the enemy is unable to hone in on select targets. ECCM thus refers to techniques that counter enemy ECM. Ongoing development The original Akash missile variant had an operational range of 27 to 30 kilometers, and could rise to an altitude of up to 18 km. The DRDO is developing newer variants that improve the system's overall capabilities and range. Akash Prime: While it has the same effective range as the original variant, Akash Prime boasts much improved reliability in low temperature environments and higher altitudes. This upgrade was made based on feedback from the IAF and the Army, which wanted to deploy the system to guard critical infrastructure in high altitude regions. Akash Prime also comes with an indigenous active radio frequency seeker for improved accuracy. It underwent its maiden flight test in September 2021 Akash-NG: The DRDO has also successfully tested the Akash-NG (New Generation) missile. This is designed for the IAF to intercept high manoeuvring aerial threats with low radar cross sections (RCS). RCS or radar signature is a measure of how detectable an object is by radar — larger the RCS, the easier it is for radar to detect the object. Fifth-generation stealth fighters have very small RCS courtesy their shape, material used, etc. Akash NG also boasts an extended range of up to 70 km, is sleeker and lighter, and has a much smaller ground system footprint. The missile is canisterised — it can be stored and operated from specially designed compartments — which improves shelf life and simplifies storage and transportation. In December 2020, the Union Cabinet approved the export of Akash after many friendly nations showed interest during international exhibitions. The export version, however, will be different from what is in service of the Indian armed forces. Sushant Kulkarni is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express in Pune with 12+ years of experience covering issues related to Crime, Defence, Internal Security and Courts. He has been associated with the Indian Express since July 2010. Sushant has extensively reported on law and order issues of Pune and surrounding area, Cyber crime, narcotics trade and terrorism. His coverage in the Defence beat includes operational aspects of the three services, the defence research and development and issues related to key defence establishments. He has covered several sensitive cases in the courts at Pune. Sushant is an avid photographer, plays harmonica and loves cooking. ... Read More
NDTV
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
What Is Your 'War Quotient'? A Quiz By Derek O'Brien
What Is Your 'WQ', or War Quotient? Take this quiz to find out. 1. The operation conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the 1999 Kargil War was given the codename Operation Safed Sagar. What was the codename for the operation conducted by the Indian Army? 2. Which former President of India was responsible for the development and operationalisation of the Agni and Prithvi missiles when he was the Chief Executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme? 3. Which film, directed by JP Dutta, released in 1997, depicted the Battle of Longewala, fought in Rajasthan's Thar Desert in 1971? 4. Which infantry regiment has a regimental insignia featuring a tiger, revered as the mount of the Goddess Durga, and has the war cry: ' Jawala Mata Ki Jai'? 5. In 1990, in which state did the Indian Army launch Operation Bajrang and then Operation Rhino, to tackle insurgency? 6. In 2005, the Bombay High Court ordered HMV to indicate a lump sum payable to the Army Welfare Fund from the royalty proceeds of which song? 7. What was the name of the accord signed between India and Pakistan on January 10, 1966 in present-day Uzbekistan, mediated by Soviet Premier Aleksey Kosygin? 8. Cope India Exercise is a series of international exercises between the Indian Air Force and the air force of which other country? 9. After which incident was Sagar Prahari Bal, a unit of the Indian Navy, created as part of coastal security? 10. Sashastra Seema Bal is responsible for guarding India's borders with two countries. One is Nepal, name the other. 11. The Indian Air Force conducts a competition named 'Mehar Baba Competition'. What is this competition for? 12. In 2021, PepsiCo launched limited-edition cans featuring which slogan that was immortalised by Captain Vikram Batra. 13. In 1988, India launched Operation Cactus to prevent a coup d'état in which country? Your options: a) Philippines b) Maldives c) Sri Lanka d) Mauritius 14. Many decades ago, which iconic husband-wife duo formed the Ajanta Arts Cultural Troupe and toured border areas to inspire our Armed Forces? 15. Which gallantry award has a medal made of bronze, one and three-eighths inches in diameter, and on the obverse features four replicas of 'Indra's Vajra' with the State Emblem? 16. Which regiment came into existence under the British East India Company in 1815, following the 1814-16 Anglo-Nepal war? 17. After which legendary officer is the fourth track on the 'Martial Music Of The Indian Army Vol. 1' album named? The legend also features in Salman Rushdie's book Midnight's Children. 18. Which division of the Indian Armed Forces has the motto ' Sam no Varunah ', meaning 'Be auspicious unto us, Oh Varunah.'? 19. Which film, released in 1983, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman, is about freedom fighters trying to liberate Goa from the Portuguese? 20. Creek _________ is the first commando unit of the Border Security Force (BSF) formed after the Indo-Pak War of 1965. Fill in the blank. Your options: a) Dolphins b) Alligators c) Otters d) Crocodiles Answers 1. Operation Vijay 2. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam 3. Border 4. The Dogra Regiment 5. Assam 6. Ae Mere Watan ke Logon, sung by Lata Mangeshkar 7. Tashkent Declaration 8. United States of America 9. 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks 10. Bhutan 11. To build swarm drones 12. Yeh Dil Maange More 13. Maldives 14. Sunil Dutt and Nargis 15. Param Vir Chakra 16. Gorkha regiment 17. Sam Manekshaw 18. Indian Navy 19. Pukar 20. Crocodiles Scores 16-20: You can conduct a quiz for the Armed Forces 10-16: Bravo for your high WQ 6-10: Solid performance at the quiz battlefield 3-5: Creditable performance. But you can still earn some more stripes
