Exercise Astrashakti-2023, took place at the Air Force Station Suryalanka in Andhra Pradesh (AP). During this the Indian Air Force (IAF) showcased the abilities of Akash weapon system (AWS), and also successfully test fired Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation (SAMAR) air defence missile system.
Abilities of Akash weapon system (AWS):
i.During the exercise, AWS which is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System neutralized four targets simultaneously in a single firing unit.
- With this demonstration, India became the first to engage four targets simultaneously at extended ranges using a single firing unit with command guidance.
ii.During the demonstration, 4 missiles were launched which engaged all four targets at a maximum range of approximately 30 km simultaneously.
- The Akash firing unit was equipped with Firing Level Radar (FLR), Firing Control Centre (FCC), and two Akash Air Force Launcher (AAFL) launchers with five armed missiles.
Development:
It is indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and has been improved from time to time
- In March 2023, the contract for procurement of improved AWS for 3rd & 4th Regiments of Army Air Defence was signed with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), worth over Rs 8,160 crore.
- It is propelled by an Integrated Ramjet Rocket Engine, and has built-in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) features.
- It has been deployed by the IAF and the Indian Army (IA).
- Click Here for Full features
IAF successfully Test Fires SAMARÂ Air Defence Missile System
During the exercise, IAF successfully test-fired the SAMAR air defense missile system for the first time which engaged aerial threats with a speed range of 2 to 2.5 Mach.
Development:
SAMAR is developed using refurbished Russian-origin Vympel R-73E and R-27ET1 air to air missiles infrared guided Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs). It is jointly developed by IAF’s 7 Base Repair Depot (BRD), Delhi and 11 BRD, Nashik, Maharashtra in association with Indian private-sector companies Simran Flowtech Industries and Yamazuki Denki.
- It consists of a twin-turret launch platform with the capability of launching two missiles in single and salvo mode.
Recent Related News:
i.East Coast Sagar Kavach 02-23, a two-day comprehensive Coastal Security Exercise was conducted in Andhra Pradesh(AP), Tamil Nadu(TN) and Puducherry(PY) from 11-12 October 2023 to assess the efficacy and robustness of the coastal security system in responds to unconventional threats from the sea.
ii.The Security Exercise Prasthan 2023 was carried out by Commodore Rajneesh Sharma Naval Officer-in-Charge (NOIC), under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command, Indian Navy (IN) in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
About Indian Air Force (IAF):
Chief of the Air Staff – Vivek Ram Chaudhari
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Establishment– 1932
Motto – Touch the sky with Glory
