The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday approved procurements worth over Rs 9,100 crore including two additional regiments of indigenously-developed Akash surface to air missile besides water breathing apparatus and test equipment for guided weapon systems of T-90 tanks.

The Akash missile to be procured is an upgraded version of the previously inducted Akash missiles and will include seeker technology, possess 360 degree coverage and will be of compact configuration with reduced signature. The upgraded Akash weapon system is operationally critical equipment which will provide protection to vital assets, defence ministry officials said. 

The Army has already inducted two regiments of Akash and last year two more regiments which are in the process of being delivered. The Akash system has since been upgraded and the DAC has given approval for the 3rd and 4th regiments to be of the upgraded variant.

Akash was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme initiated in 1984 and is manufactured by public sector Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).  The two additional regiments of Akash will also be supplied by BDL under ‘Buy Indian,’ category, they said adding the objective is to give a fillip to indigenisation and self-reliance.

The tactical missile has a range of 25 kms and can simultaneously engage multiple targets in all weather conditions and has a large operational envelope from a low altitude of 30 metres to a maximum of up to 20 km. Each regiment consists of six launchers with each launcher having three missiles.

Meanwhile, the DAC, the apex body for clearing weapon acquisition proposals of the three Services, also accorded gave the nod for progressing design and development of Individual Under Water Breathing Apparatus (IUWBA) for T 90 Tanks.

Developed by Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) of DRDO, the IUWBA is used by the crew of tanks as a safety gear and is required by the tank crew for emergency escape when negotiating water obstacles while deep fording. The DAC also accorded approval for design and development of Test Equipment for Guided Weapons System of T 90 Tank.