Following flight testing on December 24, the DRDO announced that the Akash NG air defence missile system has “successfully intercepted aerial targets at different ranges and altitudes, including near-boundary low-altitude and long-range, high-altitude scenarios.”
The NG system had successfully completed User Evaluation Trials of the missile, meeting all PSQR requirements.
Earlier Tests
The missile was first tested on January 25, 2021, using an electronic target to validate its ability to engage a hard manoeuvring target.
Follow-up tests were conducted in March 2021 and July 2021.
The missile was tested for the second time on July 21, 2021, once again without its active seeker, against an electronic target.
In a follow-up test on July 25, 2021, the missile, fitted with an active seeker, successfully intercepted a high-speed unmanned aerial target.
The test validated the functioning of the complete weapon system, consisting of the RF seeker, launcher, multi-function radar, and command, control & communication system.
Akash NG Overview
The Akash-NG project, which was sanctioned in September 2016, is a new-generation interceptor missile system. It is a clean-sheet design, not a derivative of the Akash missile.
The earlier Akash interceptor was based on the Soviet-era SA-6 (NATO codename Gainful) missile. It used a ramjet propulsion sustainer and a TVM (Track Via Missile) seeker. A TVM seeker combines SARH (semi-active radar homing) and command guidance. TVM homing is jam-proof, but its accuracy drops with target range.
In contrast, the Akash NG uses a dual-pulse rocket motor and an indigenously developed active seeker. The tracking ability of an active seeker does not degrade with target range. Also, the active seeker gives the missile endgame fire-and-forget capability. Dual-pulse motors provide good endgame manoeuvrability. The active seeker of the missile is being manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
One drawback of an active seeker is that it is prone to jamming.
The Akash NG was developed for the Indian Air Force and Indian Army to facilitate interception of high-manoeuvring, low-RCS aerial threats. It was developed with excellent mobility and field storage in mind. It is mounted on a wheeled vehicle/trailer and uses six missile canisters for storage and launch.
The system is designed and developed by the DRDO and manufactured by Pune-based Electropneumatics and Hydraulics (India) Pvt Ltd (EHPL).
EOTS
The Akash NG system features an indigenously developed electro-optical tracking system (EOTS) for passively acquiring and tracking targets.
DRDO’s IRDE designed and developed the Stabilised Electro-Optical Sight (SEOS). Mounted on a mobile platform such as a tank, fast-moving boat, or a fighter aircraft, the two-axis stabilised panoramic sight can passively acquire targets up to 40 km away.
The SEOS comprises a laser range finder, CCD camera, thermal imager, and automatic video tracker.
Hyderabad-based VEM Tech has been designated to manufacture the systems for supply to the Defence Ministry.
Akash-NG Capabilities
The missile, which has an intercept range of 30 km, is capable of engaging multiple targets.
According to EHPL, the system operates to an elevation of 20–70° and an azimuth of 360°, and it is designed for reloading two canister missile stacks within 10 minutes.
The reaction time of the system is 10 seconds from target acquisition by the command-and-control unit when a single missile is launched.
For three missiles, the system’s firing rate is 20 seconds. It takes the missile system 20 minutes to transition from transportation mode to ready-to-fire state and vice versa.
The system consists of six canister missiles mounted on a mobile platform for transportation.
No comments:
Post a Comment