Indian military to be strengthened with six new Squadrons of Akash air defense missile systems.

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.

Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile defense system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ordnance Factories Board and Bharat Electronics (BEL) in India. The missile system can target aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m. A nuclear warhead could potentially give the missile the capability to destroy both aircraft and warheads from ballistic missiles. The Akash missile is in operational service with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

An Akash battery comprises four 3D passive electronically scanned array radars and four launchers with three missiles each, all of which are interlinked. Each battery can track up to 64 targets and attack up to 12 of them. The missile has a 60 kg (130 lb) high-explosive, pre-fragmented warhead with a proximity fuse.

The order for the existing two squadrons placed in 2008 is valued at about Rs 1,200 crore ($192.8 mn).

"An order for six more squadrons worth around Rs 3,500 crore ($562 mn) was placed in the late 2010 and the manufacturing of the same is complete and will be delivered this year," a BEL official said.