Bharat Dynamics Limited supplys Indian Air Force with Akash missiles.

According to a press release published by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) on July 8, 2021, the firm has signed a contract worth about Rs.499 Crore with Ministry of Defence for manufacture and supply of Akash Missiles to the Indian Air Force.

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Akash missiles during Aero India (Picture source: The Hindu)

The contract was signed by Air Commodore Ajay Singhal, Air Commodore, Guided Weapons Maintenance on behalf of Indian Air Force and Commodore T N Kaul (Retd), Executive Director (Marketing)on behalf of BDL in the presence of Shri P. Radhakrishna, Director (Production), BDL at New Delhi.

CMD, BDL Commodore Siddharth Mishra (Retd) stated that BDL issupplyingAkash Missilesto Indian Army and Indian Air Force. With the announcement from the Union Cabinet regarding clearance of Akash Weapon System for Export, the Company is exploring to offer Akash for export to foreign countries. BDL has already received export leads from some countries expressing interest in procuring the Missile. The Company has a well-established infrastructure and expertise to execute these orders and meet the customer delivery schedule.

BDL is the prime production agency for projects under India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). Akash is one of the missiles under IGMDP being manufactured by BDL, both for Indian Army and Indian Air Force. The Missile has been successfully test fired on several occasions and is regarded as one of the best missiles in its category.

The Company also manufactures Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, Air to Air Missiles, Air to Surface Weapons, Launchers, Test Equipment, Underwater weapons and Counter Measure Systems.

The Company has bagged new orders worth about Rs.2803 Crore (including taxes) during the FY 2020-21 which includes Anti-Tank Guided Missiles order worth about Rs.1820 Crore and Surface to Air Missiles order worth about Rs.793 Crore.

With the present contract signed for supply of Akash to Indian Air Force, the order book position now stands at about Rs.8683 Crore.

The Company is also aiming to expand its footprints in the international market by offering Air to Air Missiles, Anti-Tank Guided missiles, underwater weapons and Counter Measure Systems in addition to Akash Missilesto friendly countries.

Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

The Akash missile system can target aircraft up to 50–80 km (31–50 mi) away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m. It has the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles.