The Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile systems to enhance India’s air defence system. The Indian Army will be going in for massive induction of Akash and the orders are reportedly worth over Rs. 14,180 crore. The Indian Air Force had earlier orderd eight Akash squadrons – six of them to be based in the North East – for Rs. 6,200 crore.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the 25-km range missile system can carry a payload of 60 kg and has the potential to take on sub-sonic cruise missiles. Akash will replace the obsolete Russian-origin Pechora, OSA-AK and Igla missiles. Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) is planning to produce 500 missiles per year and with the first batch rolling out in the fourth quarter of 2012.