Latest news with #Akash-NG
India.com
4 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Brazil stops talks with India over Akash air defence system, Turkey's Erdogan is happy due to...
Akash air defence missile system- File image India's Akash missile system: In a matter of rising rivalry between the Republic of India and Turkey, a Turkish conservative website has taken a dig at India's Akash air defence system after Brazil, a BRICS country decided to stop negotiations with India over the same defence equipment. Notably, India's talks with Brazil reportedly fell through after Brazil was offered only an older version of the missile system. Here are all the details you need to know about how the Turkish conservative website has taken a dig at India's Akash air defence system. What is Turkey saying about Akash air defence system? As per a report carried by The Week, a report that appeared in TRHaber erroneously stated that the 'Akash air defence system sold to Armenia on the promise that it could shoot down Turkish UAVs flopped in Brazil.' The Turkish report also claimed that Brazilian Armed Forces abandoned the purchase of the Akash air defence system, which proved to be extremely outdated after having examined the system, 'If the Brazilian government chooses Turkish systems, cooperation on the Embraer-built KC-390 military cargo aircraft could deepen,' the Turkish media report said, referring to Turkey's MoU with Brazilian aerospace giant. Why is India's Akash missile system so dangerous? The Akash missile system covers a range of 4.5 km to 25 km and can engage aerial threats flying between 100 meters and 20 kilometres in altitude. It uses a command guidance system and can target helicopters, fighter aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles. It is fully automatic, features built-in electronic counter-countermeasures, and is mobile across different terrains. For a better understanding, readers should know that the Akash-NG, the much-talked about newer version of the Akash missile is command-guided and has a speed of Mach 2.5, but the earlier version lacks specifications like active homing and network targeting. As reports Indicated, India didn't offer Brazil the Akash-NG, the missile with a faster reaction time, greater accuracy, and improved resistance to saturation attacks compared to earlier versions. (With inputs from agencies)
Hindustan Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Who is Dr Ramarao, Kannadiga behind India's Akash system that thwarted Pakistan missiles
When drones and missiles from Pakistan threatened Indian airspace on May 8 and 9, it was the Akash surface-to-air missile system, built indigenously, that stood as the country's first line of defence. Designed to detect and destroy aerial targets with accuracy, the system intercepted multiple threats successfully, earning praise for its performance. At the core of this defence breakthrough is Dr Prahlada Ramarao, a Kannadiga scientist whose work with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) shaped India's missile defence capabilities, Business Today reported. Speaking after Akash's successful interceptions, Dr Ramarao called it the most fulfilling day of his life. "Seeing the missile I helped develop neutralise enemy threats with such accuracy... it was like watching your life's work come alive," he said in a televised interview according to the publication. He added that the system not only met but exceeded its design expectations during the recent engagement. Dr Ramarao's journey with the Akash missile began in the early years of India's missile development efforts. Handpicked by Dr AP Abdul Kalam, India's 'Missile Man' and former President, Ramarao was appointed as the youngest project director for the Akash programme. At the time, the Indian Army was sceptical about the system's feasibility. The Akash missile is now a key pillar of India's air defence network. Produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited and developed by DRDO, it has evolved over the years to include the advanced Akash-NG variant. The newer version boasts a range of up to 80 km and can reach speeds of 2,500 km/h. It can lock onto 64 targets at once and launch 12 missiles simultaneously. Akash is just one part of Dr Ramarao's extensive contribution to India's missile programme. Over his career, he has worked on nearly 10 different missile systems, including surface-to-air and air-to-air categories. He played significant roles in developing missiles such as the Astra and BrahMos, the latter a joint venture with Russia that has become one of India's most successful precision-strike weapons. Today, the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force actively deploy many of these systems. Their success has also drawn international interest. Countries like Armenia have placed orders for the Akash system and the Pinaka rocket launcher, underlining India's emergence as a credible defence exporter. Dr Ramarao believes Indian missiles offer a compelling package for global buyers, 'Our systems are cost-effective, simple to operate, and deliver competitive performance. That's what sets them apart in the global market.' (Also Read: Bengaluru resident wants Donald Trump to intervene in Ejipura flyover delay, offers to name it 'MAGA Trump Flyover')
India Today
09-05-2025
- India Today
How Indian interceptors crushed Pak drones: Inside the impregnable air defence web
The Indian forces "effectively repulsed" a major drone attack from Pakistan in the intervening night of May 8-9 along the entire western border showing the strength if its defence grid, integrated theatres and crisp developments followed the precise missile strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan early Wednesday under Operation Sindoor, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror air defence grid was put to test as swarm drones, also dubbed loitering munitions, entered Indian airspace from Pakistan. The night sky came to life with the roar of multiple interceptors from India that turned the Pakistani drones into duds. WHAT IS THE AIR DEFENCE GRID? India's air defence grid is a sophisticated, multi-layered shield designed to counter a diverse spectrum of aerial threats-from long-range ballistic missiles and stealth aircraft to drones and loitering system's resilience and effectiveness were demonstrated when it neutralised the large-scale missile and drone attack from Pakistan, safeguarding 15 critical military sites across 1,800 km of Indian how India's air defence grid is structured and what's in its IS THE GRID STACKED?India's integrated air defence operates through concentric layers, each dedicated to intercepting threats at different ranges and system is coordinated by the Indian Air Force's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), which links a network of radars, sensors, and command posts via high-speed optic fibre, enabling real-time tracking and rapid response. Outermost Layer: S-400 Sudarshan ChakraSystem: S-400 Triumf (Sudarshan Chakra)Origin: RussiaRange: Up to 400 km (engagement), 600 km (detection)Role: The S-400 forms the backbone of India's long-range air defence, capable of tracking and destroying stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and tactical ballistic missiles before they approach critical Three squadrons operational; two more arriving by and Ballistic Missile DefenceSystem: Indian Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) ProgrammeComponents: Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) for exo-atmospheric interception; Advanced Air Defence (AAD) for endo-atmospheric interceptionRange: Intercepts ballistic missiles launched from up to 5,000 km away; PAD can engage targets at altitudes up to 80 Layer: MRSAM/Barak-8System: Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) / Barak-8Origin: India-Israel collaborationRange: 70–100 kmRole: Engages high-speed aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones, complementing the S-400 and filling the crucial mid-tier gap. Indian forces swiftly deployed both kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures. (Photo: DRDO) Short to Medium Range: Akash and QRSAMSystem: Akash, Akash-NG, Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM)Origin: IndigenousRange: Akash (30–50 km), Akash-NG (up to 70 km), QRSAM (30 km)Role: Provides rapid response against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and drones, especially during saturation and Point DefenceSystems: Spyder (Israeli, 8–10 km), Zu-23-2, Shilka, Tunguska, VSHORAD (Very Short Range Air Defence) systemsRole: Protects vital installations from drones, low-flying aircraft, and precision-guided munitions at very short ranges (2–5 km).Counter-UAS and Electronic WarfareSystems: Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) Grid, including jammers, spoofers, and directed-energy weaponsRole: Detects, tracks, and neutralises hostile drones and loitering munitions using radar, RF sensors, and kinetic or electronic countermeasures. INTEGRATION AND REAL-TIME RESPONSEThe entire grid is managed by IACCS, which fuses data from multiple sensors and radars to prioritise threats and assign the most suitable interceptor. This integration ensures that every layer-from S-400 to Akash, MRSAM, and point-defence guns-acts in concert, maximizing interception probability and minimizing layered air defence grid combines imported, indigenous, and co-developed technologies to create a robust, adaptable shield. Led by the S-400 and supported by a suite of missile and gun systems, the grid is designed for both deterrence and active defence, capable of countering the full spectrum of modern aerial Watch
