The medium range surface-to-air missile Akash will be inducted into the armed forces in 2004, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister V K Aatre told rediff.com in Bangalore on Thursday.
He said the Akash, which has a range of 25 km, has undergone successful field trials and would be inducted next year after user trials.
"The Akash is meant to replace the ageing SAM-6 used by the army and SAM-3 by the air force. The [new] anti-missile system will be able to effectively counter any short-range ballistic missiles launched by the enemy," Aatre said.
With a much shorter reaction time, the air force version of the Akash can engage any combat aircraft cruising at Mach 3 speed.
The Akash missiles are being developed by the Bangalore-based Defence Research and Development Organisation in collaboration with other defence and private R&D institutions as part of the integrated guided missile development program.
The scientific advisor clarified that India has not entered into any collaboration with Israel for producing the Arrow missiles in view of the ongoing Akash project.
Aatre disclosed that the BrahMos anti-cruise missile would undergo a fresh set of tests after the current southwest monsoon ends in September.
"This time the tests will be carried out from a naval ship. Tests carried early this year (February) have demonstrated their capability to cruise at 290 km and carry a payload of 200-300 kg," he claimed.
Code-named PJ-10, the BrahMos missile project is a 50:50 joint venture between the DRDO and the Russian Aerospace Consortium, led by its designer NPO Mashinostroyenia.
BrahMos' first test was carried from the Chandipur-at-sea in Orissa two years ago and subsequently from the naval ship INS Rajput early this year. It can be fired from multiple platforms - ship, submarine, land and air.
Aatre, however, declined to comment on the next test flight of the long-range Agni missile.
On the acquisition of the Phalcon air-borne early warning jets from Israel, Aatre said it was for the government to decide the timeframe as it was only recently that the US had cleared their sale to India by Tel Aviv.
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