The first production copy of the Akash anti-aircraft complex is a very important event in ensuring the defense capability of India. Many experts believe that underdevelopment of air defense systems represents the greatest security vulnerability for the country as a whole.
Two decades ago, the Indian Ministry of Defense blocked an overseas air defense procurement program in order to create the most favored nation regime for the Indian DRDO (Defense Research & Development Organization) in the creation of national air defense systems designed to defend command posts, air bases, nuclear power plants, nuclear centers and others. vital infrastructure facilities. It was a dangerous game. In the event of the outbreak of hostilities, the insufficient effectiveness of the outdated Soviet-made air defense systems, which have been in service for about 50 years, would force the Indian Air Force to be used mainly to protect its ground forces, and not for active operations against enemy aircraft.
But this risky move is beginning to bear fruit, as India's first modern air defense system rolls off the assembly line. During a visit by representatives of the media to the production line of Bharat Electronics (BEL) in Bangalore, the first production samples of the Akash anti-aircraft complex were demonstrated, which will be transferred to the Air Force by March 2011. This is the first squadron of the Akash air defense system, which will defend the airbase in Gwalior, where Mirage-2000 fighters are based.
By December 2011, BEL plans to deliver a second squadron to guard the Pune airbase, the main base of the Su-30MKI front-line fighters. In parallel, Bharat Dynamics will build six more Akash air defense squadrons, designed to provide air defense for new air bases located along the Sino-Indian border.
“The cost of the two Akash air defense squadrons produced by BEL will be 12.21 million rupees,” says Ashwini Datta, managing director of BEL. "The ground infrastructure will cost an additional Rs 20 million, so each squadron costs about Rs 70 million. This is not only significantly cheaper than foreign counterparts, but also allows for better service levels and the possibility of continuous technological improvements to the system."
DRDO and the Ministry of Defense argue that the Indian army is close to creating a mobile version of the Akash air defense system on the chassis of T-72 tanks, capable of moving in battle formations of armored formations. Currently, one of the three army shock corps has practically no air defense systems, and the other two are equipped with outdated 2K12 Cube (SA-6) systems. This makes them extremely vulnerable, especially in the event of hostilities on enemy territory.
The key element of the Akash air defense system of the latest modifications is the Rohini mobile multifunctional 3D radar station. The Rohini radar, equipped with a phased antenna array, provides search and automatic tracking of aerodynamic targets located at ranges of up to 120 km, determining their nationality and issuing target designation for the combat vehicles of the complex. The control center of the complex coordinates the work of all elements of the air defense system, assesses the degree of threats, generates data for firing and missile control. Effective firing range - 25 km. According to the developer, a two-missile salvo provides the defeat of a fighter-type target with a probability of 98%.
Experts' statements about the presence of serious flaws in the Indian air defense system have been made for a long time, but only now it has been officially announced that with the start of mass production of the Akash air defense system, the situation has begun to be corrected. The number of Indian targets in need of effective air defense is constantly growing. According to the Air Force Command, in 1983 the number of such objects was 101, in 1992 - 122, in 1997 - 133 and currently exceeds 150.
The S-125 "Pechora" complexes, put into service in 1974 with an assigned service life of nine years, are now outdated. The service life of the S-125 air defense system was extended by the manufacturer to 15 years. After the refusal of Russian companies from further support, DRDO unilaterally extended the life of these complexes to 21 years. By 2004, only 30 S-125 air defense systems out of 60 originally imported were still in operation. On January 15, 2003, the Air Force Commander, Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, informed the Minister of Defense that over 60% of the facilities did not have air cover and that at least a minimum number of air defense systems had to be imported to meet national needs.
And only seven years later, the deployment of the Akash air defense system begins to fill this gap.
