On May 24, at the Indian Chandipur training ground, successful tests of the Akash air defense missile system of its own design by the Indian military-industrial complex took place. "These tests were carried out as part of routine training for air defense personnel and were generally considered successful," said one source closely associated with the national Akash program. During the tests, an anti-aircraft missile fired from the Akash complex intercepted an “enemy's” drone in the sky.
The design and development of this air defense system began in India in 1983. The work was carried out under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. After the end of a rather long period of time, during which the tests took place, and the modifications of the anti-aircraft complex, it was accepted into service only in 2008. DRDO's Tata Electronics and Bharat Dynamics Limited were the first to develop guided missile weapons. The Akash complex, created by the joint efforts of Indian companies and enterprises, was ready for testing in 1990.
The complex was developed by the Indian state defense research and development organization "DRDO". In addition to air defense units, the Akash air defense system will also be supplied to the Indian Air Force units as a medium-range air defense system. The Indian designers, who have developed the anti-aircraft system, say that in its main characteristics Akash can be compared with the American Patriot, provided with MIM-104 missiles. The anti-aircraft missile system is capable of destroying the following air targets:
- fighter aircraft;
- unmanned aerial vehicles;
- various modifications of cruise missiles;
For many years, the top leadership of India has been implementing its own program to create guided anti-aircraft missiles. And despite the high final cost and the pressure (disapproval) of some countries, India does not refuse and consistently implements all complex works within the framework of this program. The long-term goal is to build up and develop the production and research base for the future provision of the armed forces with the latest and most effective missile systems.
At this time, work is being completed on the development of a medium-range anti-aircraft complex on the Akash platform for the Indian Air Force. The main purpose is the destruction of airborne objects with a sufficiently high speed of movement, in conditions of the use of jamming equipment by the enemy. The Akash complex will be supplied to the troops, in several versions, to provide air defense of important facilities and military units of the Indian Armed Forces. The modernized Akash medium-range complex will be able to intercept tactical and operational-tactical missiles. The range of the air defense missile system will be increased by 40 kilometers, due to the installation of the latest model of the main engine on anti-aircraft missiles. In addition, the medium-range anti-aircraft missiles will be equipped with infrared homing heads and will improve the characteristics of the Rajendra radar station, which is part of Akash. Radar "Rajendra" was developed by the Indian company "LRDE", also part of "DRDO". Another version of the anti-aircraft complex is being actively developed to meet the needs of the Indian naval forces.
The composition of the "Akash" complex:
- launchers, each with 3 guided anti-aircraft missiles;
- Radar "Rajendra" of multifunctional type. The radar uses a phased array antenna;
- mobile control center;
- additional equipment for auxiliary functions.
All of the above elements are installed on a specially upgraded chassis from the BMP-2. Launchers can also be performed on trailed Tata vehicles.
Guided anti-aircraft missile SAM "Akash"
In terms of external characteristics, the air defense missile strongly resembles the anti-aircraft missile of the Russian air defense missile system SD "Cube" and has a "rotary wing" scheme. The rocket received 4 aerodynamic surfaces, which are located in the central part of the hull and serve as wings and steering surfaces. They are driven by pneumatic-type actuators and control the pitch and course of the rocket. A stabilizer with aileron located at the end of the rocket body controls the roll of the rocket. The solid-propellant engine accelerates the rocket at launch to a speed of 500 m / s in just 4.5 seconds. Then the engine of the combined type (solid propellant rocket and ramjet engine) is switched on, which increases the speed of the rocket to 1000 m / s in half a minute. The solid propellant for a rocket engine contains nitroglycerin, cellulose nitrate, and powdered magnesium. Oxidizing agent - atmospheric oxygen. Aggregate component of the ramjet engine is located in the central part of the rocket body between the aerodynamic planes.
The warhead of an anti-aircraft missile is a high-explosive fragmentation type, weighing 60 kilograms. The radius of the scattering of fragments on impact is 10 meters. Undermining the warhead comes from a pulse-Doppler / radio / contact type of fuse. The rocket is powered by a thermochemical battery. Connecting the battery to the on-board network - 2 seconds, warranty operation - 10 years. Missile equipment - missile guidance receiver unit and transponder unit. The antenna devices of these units are located on the tail stabilizer.
Anti-aircraft missile control:
- the initial section of the trajectory - command control;
- middle section of the trajectory - command control;
- the final segment of the trajectory - semi-active type radar control (meaning the final 4-second segment of the flight).
Launcher SAM "Akash"
Self-propelled anti-aircraft missile launcher is designed for transportation, storage and launch of Akash anti-aircraft missiles. PU design - base (platform and chassis) and swivel part with 3 rail guides. The platform houses vertical and horizontal guidance mechanisms, electrical equipment and equipment for the preparation and launch of anti-aircraft missiles. To reduce the mass of the launcher, Indian designers have made many structural elements of aluminum alloys. To stabilize the turning part, a torsion balance mechanism was installed. The power supply of the launcher is an autonomous gas turbine. It delivers 3-phase AC current (200/115 V) with a frequency of 400 Hz. The servo-type power drive provides vertical and horizontal guidance and synchronous rotation of the turntable with anti-aircraft missiles in the direction of target movement.
PU equipment:
- navigation equipment;
- topographic reference equipment;
- equipment for orientation on the ground;
- receiver KRNS "NAVSTAR". It is developed with the help of American specialists and is produced in India at one of the DRDO factories.
Radar "Rajendra"
Multifunctional radar "Rajendra" is designed to search, capture and automatically track flying objects at a distance of up to 60 kilometers, determine the state ownership of the detected objects and aim anti-aircraft missiles at them. The radar is capable of directing 12 missiles to 4 detected targets in conditions of strong opposition. The Rajendra station is provided with a built-in system for monitoring basic functions and detecting faults. The radar is controlled by a high-performance digital complex installed at the control room. Antenna system - three antenna arrays and outgoing beam control equipment. The main antenna for receiving / transmitting the G / H-band, operating frequencies 4-8 GHz, consists of 4 thousand elements. The M-band pointing antenna, operating frequencies 8-20 GHz, consists of 1 thousand elements. The recognition antenna consists of 16 elements and is used to determine "friend or foe".
Control center of the air defense missile system "Akash"
The control center is designed to coordinate the functioning of the entire complex. It collects data and processes information from the radar and launcher, identifies and tracks 1-64 targets. It evaluates the detected objects, calculates data for launchers and missiles. The main work of the control point is automated with the help of a high-performance digital complex connected to the workplaces of the operators and the commander of the complex. It can operate both independently (autonomously) as part of a combat unit (battery) of an air defense missile system, and centralized, as part of a combat group (division), from the main command post.
One combat unit SAM "Akash"
One unit is considered to be a combat battery, which includes:
- 4 launchers with anti-aircraft missiles, a total of 12 units;
- 1 multifunctional radar "Rajendra";
- 1-n control point.
It can be used both as part of a battery and as part of a battalion. When using the battery as a separate combat unit, a 2-coordinate target detection radar is attached to it. Division - is a tactical unit, it consists of:
- up to 8 batteries in full;
- 3-coordinate radar station for target detection;
- a command post, which includes communication and automation equipment.
Main characteristics:
- range of application max / min - 27/3 kilometers;
- the height of the struck objects max / min - 18 / 1.5 kilometers;
- the speed of the targeted target is up to 700 m / s;
- the response time of the complex is 15 seconds;
- the mass of one anti-aircraft missile is 700 kilograms.
