Indian Air Force (IAF) is all geared up to raise six new squadrons of the Akash Air Defence System which is indigenously developed by the DRDO, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and private firms long before the nation launched on the Make-In-India campaign.
Barring the final action of firing the missile or pressing the ‘destroy’ key, all major functions are done electronically by the computer running on the weapon system software.
While paperwork for immediate procurement of seven squadrons (14 units) is progressing at the highest level, the IAF is likely to place additional orders for 49 firing units in a phased manner. The order for the existing two squadrons placed in 2008 is valued at about Rs 1,200 crore.
Integration of all equipment and software at the squadron level, installation and commissioning of the missile system are being done by BEL. The weapon system software developed jointly by the Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) and BEL plays a crucial role in achieving the target destruction.