( Times of India ) NEW DELHI: Fighters, submarines or tanks may grab all the eyeballs but other military hardware also costs a packet. Over the next five years, the armed forces will induct three advanced surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems for well over Rs 30,000 crore.
The SAM systems to detect and destroy hostile aircraft, drones and helicopters at ranges betweem 25 and 70 km -- are the indigenous Akash system and the two being developed with the help of Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) -- the long-range SAM (LR-SAM) and medium-range SAM (MR-SAM).
Latest status reports peg the R&D costs and orders placed for the 25-km Akash system, which has a multiple target handling capability with digitally-coded command guidance system to protect vital installations, at a staggering Rs 19,182 crore.
While the joint DRDO-IAI project cost for LR-SAM to arm naval warships is Rs 2,606 crore, the MR-SAM for IAF is worth Rs 10,076 crore.
Akash systems are already on course to be inducted, with the IAF order being worth Rs 6,200 crore and the Army's Rs 12,402 crore. The first IAF Akash squadron, with two `flights' of four launchers each, is expected to be operational at Gwalior airbase by next year. Six of the squadrons will subsequently be based in the north-east to counter the Chinese threat.
The 70-km-range LR-SAM project -- with multi-function surveillance and threat radars, weapon control systems and missiles -- in turn, is slated for completion by May 2012. In the first phase, it will arm the three Kolkata-class destroyers being built at Mazagon Docks for Rs 11,662 crore.
Under the MR-SAM project, which will also have a strike range of 70 km, the delivery of the first firing unit to the IAF is scheduled for March 2013, with the 18th one coming in October 2016.
All three projects are important because the armed forces are largely equipped with near-obsolete air defence units, like the Russian-origin Pechora, OSA-AK and Igla missile systems, even though the radar coverage of Indian airspace suffers from many gaping holes.
Interestingly, though IAI has been dogged by some controversy -- ranging from kickback allegations to exorbitant business charges -- the government has refused to blacklist the firm on the ground that it will prove "counter-productive" due to the "crucial" projects that are underway.
India is also importing several Spyder low-level quick-reaction missile systems from Israel to bolster its air defence capabilities. IAF had pushed for them due to persistent delays in the indigenous Akash and Trishul SAM systems. While Trishul has failed to materialise, armed forces now seem confident about Akash.
The sleek 5.6-metre-long Akash uses an integrated two-stage Ramjet rocket propulsion technology, and is powered by an air-breathing engine to carry a payload of 60 kg.
As its computerised operation ensures a low-reaction time, Akash is designed to neutralise multiple aerial targets attacking from several directions simultaneously in all-weather conditions. With an 88% "kill probability", it can even take on sub-sonic cruise missiles, says DRDO.
The SAM systems to detect and destroy hostile aircraft, drones and helicopters at ranges betweem 25 and 70 km -- are the indigenous Akash system and the two being developed with the help of Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) -- the long-range SAM (LR-SAM) and medium-range SAM (MR-SAM).
Latest status reports peg the R&D costs and orders placed for the 25-km Akash system, which has a multiple target handling capability with digitally-coded command guidance system to protect vital installations, at a staggering Rs 19,182 crore.
While the joint DRDO-IAI project cost for LR-SAM to arm naval warships is Rs 2,606 crore, the MR-SAM for IAF is worth Rs 10,076 crore.
Akash systems are already on course to be inducted, with the IAF order being worth Rs 6,200 crore and the Army's Rs 12,402 crore. The first IAF Akash squadron, with two `flights' of four launchers each, is expected to be operational at Gwalior airbase by next year. Six of the squadrons will subsequently be based in the north-east to counter the Chinese threat.
The 70-km-range LR-SAM project -- with multi-function surveillance and threat radars, weapon control systems and missiles -- in turn, is slated for completion by May 2012. In the first phase, it will arm the three Kolkata-class destroyers being built at Mazagon Docks for Rs 11,662 crore.
Under the MR-SAM project, which will also have a strike range of 70 km, the delivery of the first firing unit to the IAF is scheduled for March 2013, with the 18th one coming in October 2016.
All three projects are important because the armed forces are largely equipped with near-obsolete air defence units, like the Russian-origin Pechora, OSA-AK and Igla missile systems, even though the radar coverage of Indian airspace suffers from many gaping holes.
Interestingly, though IAI has been dogged by some controversy -- ranging from kickback allegations to exorbitant business charges -- the government has refused to blacklist the firm on the ground that it will prove "counter-productive" due to the "crucial" projects that are underway.
India is also importing several Spyder low-level quick-reaction missile systems from Israel to bolster its air defence capabilities. IAF had pushed for them due to persistent delays in the indigenous Akash and Trishul SAM systems. While Trishul has failed to materialise, armed forces now seem confident about Akash.
The sleek 5.6-metre-long Akash uses an integrated two-stage Ramjet rocket propulsion technology, and is powered by an air-breathing engine to carry a payload of 60 kg.
As its computerised operation ensures a low-reaction time, Akash is designed to neutralise multiple aerial targets attacking from several directions simultaneously in all-weather conditions. With an 88% "kill probability", it can even take on sub-sonic cruise missiles, says DRDO.
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