Air Defense Article Index : Current 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
 Latest
 News 		  Most
 Read 		  Most
 Commented		  Hot
 Topics

December 18, 2004

On November 26th, 2004, India tested one of its locally developed Akash surface-to-air missiles. This past Summer, it looked like the Akash would be cancelled, and a foreign missile purchased. But after 15 years of development, Akash proved impossible to kill. So the tests will continue and, unless the tests are a major failure, the system will go into production. The Akash system is basically an upgraded Russian SA-6 system. Each 1,543 pound missile has a 132 pound warhead, a range of 27 kilometers and can kit targets as high as 49,000 feet, or as low as 66 feet. India wants to built a version of Akash for use on ships, and is already looking into a longer range (60 kilometers) version. India has spent over $165 million developing Akash, so far.