Improved Akash Weapon System (A+WS): The medium range SAM (surface-to-air missile) system would hugely strengthen India’s security posture
In a significant development, India’s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), one of the top notch manufacturers of modern defence systems, has received orders worth Rs 5,900 Crore from the Ministry of Defence (Government of India) for supplying an assortment of state-of-the-art weapon platforms & systems as of today in the financial year 2023-24.
Out of the total package, the defence PSU (public sector unit) received the major order for supplying two regiments of Improved Akash Weapon System (A+WS), which is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, developed with upgrades from Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for a value of Rs 3,914 Crore.
Akash is an all-weather, point/area air-defence weapon system intended for defending vulnerable points/areas against threats emanating from low, medium and high altitudes. The system uses high mobility vehicles for mobile application.
The improvements incorporated include high altitude operation, simultaneous engagement of multiple threats over 360 degrees, missiles fitted with RF Seeker and reduced foot print.
Other significant orders received inter-alia include orders for Shakti EW & Sanket MK III (naval systems), GBMES & GBVU comumuniaction jammer systems, MKBT systems, IFF-MK-XII crypto modules and upgradation of SDP & display of Rohini radar, training system for CMS P15B & CAMC of CMS for P 28 among others.
Qaisar
