Defence Ministry to discuss Army proposal for Akash Prime missiles

The Defence Ministry is scheduled to discuss the Indian Army’s proposal to acquire two regiments of the Akash Prime missiles on Monday. They can be deployed in high altitude areas above 15,000 feet. The new Akash missiles have a better performance range than its predecessors. The primary purpose of this is to avoid any intrusion of aircraft through the mountainous borders with Pakistan and China. According to a government source, the cost of the acquisition would be Rs.10,000 crore. Reportedly, it is an upgraded version of the existing missile system.  

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The government source said, "The Defence Ministry is scheduled to consider the Army proposal worth around Rs.10,000 crore for acquiring two regiments of the Akash Prime or extended performance Akash missiles. The Akash Prime Missile is an upgraded version of the missile system already existing in the Army.” 

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Defence Acquisition Council meeting

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to inaugurate the Col Chewang Rinchen Bridge built between Durbuk and Daulat Beg Oldie on Monday after which a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council will be held. The Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat will also participate in the discussion. Indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Akash missile system has been extremely successful in defence operations. While it already has two regiments of the missile, the Indian Army wants to add two more for deployment on the border with Pakistan and China.  

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An upgraded version of the missile

The Army is happy with the missile’s performance despite teething troubles. In an exercise held last year, it was adjudged as the best performer in the Indian Air Force. The DRDO successfully test-fired AKASH-MK-1S, the surface to air missile from ITR, Chandipur, Odisha, on May 25 and 27, 2019. It is an upgraded version of the existing Akash missile with further enhancements.

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(With ANI inputs)