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Armenia Receives New Indian-Made Akash Surface-to-Air Defense System.
According to an article published on November 12, 2024, by the Indian newspaper The New Indian Express, India reportedly shipped a second battery of its Akash air defense system to Armenia. This delivery is part of a 2022 agreement, under which Armenia ordered 15 Akash systems valued at approximately $720 million.
Indian-made Akash surface-to-air defense system (Picture source: Wikimedia)
AKASH is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile System to protect vulnerable areas and points from air attacks. Akash Weapon System (AWS) can simultaneously engage Multiple Targets in Group Mode or Autonomous Mode. It has built-in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) features. The entire weapon system has been configured on mobile platforms.
The Akash system, developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), is a cornerstone of India’s self-reliant defense capabilities. Deployed by the Indian Air Force in 2014 and the Indian Army in 2015, Akash is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system capable of intercepting aerial threats like fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, and air-to-surface missiles within a 25-kilometer range. In 2020, India approved Akash’s export, and this delivery to Armenia underscores India's ambitions to expand its defense export market.
Beyond Armenia, other nations, including Vietnam, Egypt, and the Philippines, have shown interest in the Akash system. Parallel to this transaction with Armenia, India signed an agreement with the Philippines in 2022 for the export of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with the first delivery occurring in April 2024. These deals position India as a potential defense supplier for countries seeking reliable and cost-effective defense solutions.
An Akash air defense battery includes several specialized vehicles, each serving a specific role in the system’s overall function. A complete Akash battery consists of up to six distinct vehicles, each contributing to the air defense’s coverage and reactivity.
The core of the battery is the Akash Missile Launcher Vehicle (AMLV), mounted on rugged Tata or Ashok Leyland trucks. Each launcher vehicle can carry up to three Akash missiles, ready to be launched upon detecting a threat. A standard battery typically includes four launcher vehicles, offering a robust defensive capability with simultaneous firing capacity.
A critical element is the Rajendra Radar Vehicle (ARV), which carries the Rajendra 3D radar, a passive electronically scanned array that detects, tracks, and designates targets for the missiles. Mounted on a Tatra platform for resilience and terrain adaptability, this radar vehicle is essential for accurate missile guidance, providing extended coverage and rapid response within a 25-kilometer radius.
The battery also includes a Command and Control Vehicle (C4I), known as the Akash Command and Control Vehicle (ACCV). This mobile coordination center houses the C4I system (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence), facilitating communication and control between the radar, launchers, and ground crews. The command vehicle centralizes data and target distribution, enabling a coordinated and efficient response to aerial threats.
Additional Logistics Support Vehicles (LSV) accompany the battery to transport extra munitions, maintenance equipment, and spare parts. Known as Akash Logistics Vehicles, these support vehicles ensure resupply and operational continuity, even during prolonged combat conditions.
Lastly, a Transport and Loading Vehicle (TLV), also known as the Transport and Loading Vehicle (TCR), completes the Akash battery. Designed to reload the launchers directly in the field, the TCR enables quick and secure reloading, sustaining the battery’s firing capability in operational environments.
The Akash missile is a medium-range SAM developed for effective air defense against diverse aerial threats. Designed by DRDO, Akash can intercept targets up to 25 kilometers away and at altitudes of 18,000 meters, making it suitable for countering fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. It is equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, ensuring effective target neutralization.
The Akash system is based on a surveillance and control radar known as the Rajendra 3D radar, a passive electronically scanned array capable of detecting and tracking multiple targets simultaneously. Coupled with the missile for in-flight guidance, the radar enables precise interception, even in the presence of evasive maneuvers or electronic jamming. Powered by a two-stage solid-fuel rocket motor, Akash reaches speeds of up to Mach 2.5 (around 3,000 km/h), ensuring swift interception.
Akash missiles have a semi-active guidance system that locks onto the target with the Rajendra radar, allowing the missile to correct its flight path for precise impact. The Akash system is highly mobile, deployable on both wheeled and tracked vehicles, allowing rapid repositioning on the battlefield. This mobility and versatility make Akash a reliable solution for modern air defense needs.
The export version of Akash differs slightly from the one used by Indian armed forces, tailored to meet specific customer requirements. The missile configuration also includes over 96% indigenous components, highlighting India's commitment to domestic manufacturing.
The Akash systems acquired by Armenia could play a strategic role in protecting against Azerbaijani threats. Primarily, Akash would be highly effective against reconnaissance and attack drones, a key component of Azerbaijan’s arsenal. In recent conflicts, drones, especially Turkish Bayraktar TB2 and Israeli Harop kamikaze drones, have proven their effectiveness in reconnaissance and precision strikes. The Akash system, capable of detecting and intercepting low- to medium-altitude targets, would be instrumental in countering these threats.
In addition to drones, Akash could also be deployed against Azerbaijani attack helicopters and tactical aircraft, intercepting these at a range of 25 kilometers. This includes aircraft like the Su-25 or MiG-29, used for precision strikes or close air support missions. The integrated Rajendra radar enhances the system's effectiveness, enabling tracking of multiple moving targets and increasing defensive success against coordinated aerial attacks.
Finally, Akash could contribute to the defense against possible cruise missiles or air-to-ground missiles launched from Azerbaijani combat aircraft, protecting Armenia’s military and strategic infrastructure.