By NewsGram Staff Writer

The induction ceremony of Akash Weapon System into the Indian Army Air Defence Corps was organised at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi on Tuesday.

The ceremony was marked by the handing over of the "key of the weapon system" to General Dalbir Singh, Chief of Army Staff, who thereafter dedicated the weapon system to the Corps of Army Air Defence by handing over the symbolic key to Lt Gen VK Saxena, DG Army Air Defence.

The Army Chief complemented the Armed Forces, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) for the integrated approach to develop and deliver the complex missile system to the nation.

Akash Missile System is an indigenously developed supersonic short range surface-to-air missile system with the capability to engage a wide variety of aerial threats like aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles up to a maximum range of 25 km and upto an altitude of 20 Km.

The system is capable of simultaneously engaging multiple targets and is capable of providing comprehensive short range missile cover to the vulnerable assets in the field force of the Army. It employs command to line of sight guidance and relies on sophisticated radars and control systems to guide the missile to its targets.

The weapon system has been designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Besides this, a large number of medium & small scale industries have been actively involved in this prestigious indigenous development program.