Coimbatore. 19 May 2018. L&T Defence, the defence arm of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and one of the leading industry partners of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL), has successfully completed manufacturing of 1,000 Integrated Propulsion Airframe System hardware for the Akash Missile at L&T’s Precision Manufacturing Systems Complex (PMSC), Coimbatore.
Jayant Patil, Whole-time Director (Defence) and Member of L&T Board, handed over 1,000th Integrated Propulsion Airframe System hardware to V. Udaya Bhaskar, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Dynamics Limited, in the presence of Dr. S Christopher, Chairman, DRDO at an event held at L&T Defence’s major growth centre at PMSC Coimbatore.
Akash is an all-weather medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system indigenously developed in India as part of the Integrated Guided-Missile Development Program (IGMDP). It provides multi-directional and multi-target area defence. The Akash missile can be launched from static or mobile platforms, such as battle tanks, wheeled vehicles providing deployment flexibility. The SAM system can handle multiple targets and destroy maneuvering targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), fighter aircraft, cruise missiles and missiles launched from helicopters. The Akash SAM system defends vulnerable areas in all weather conditions against medium-range air threats from low, medium and high altitudes.
Integrated Propulsion Airframe System hardware is a critical system of the Akash missile. It comprises Sustainer & Booster motors (Section IV & V) integrated with 112 other sub-assemblies and components. L&T Defence partnered DRDL for production technology & process development for Akash propulsion motors and produced prototype and limited series production of both the Sustainer & Booster motors creating an ecosystem of medium and small-scale enterprises. The propulsion system hardware is manufactured and integrated at L&T’s state of the art facility at Coimbatore. L&T partnered DRDO in the development and productionisation of the Ground Mobile Launchers and Rohini Radar Systems that form part of the Akash Systems inducted by Indian Air Force as well as Indian Army.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jayant Patil said, “We have been associated with the Akash missile program right from the development stage since 1987. As a Development partner and Production agency we are proud of our contribution towards the evolution of the Akash Missile System. As a long-term development partner to DRDO, we have been following “ONE TEAM” approach with DRDL as well as BDL to speed up the industrialization phase of the Akash program. These joint efforts have been primarily instrumental in progressing the Akash Program from the development to Series Production phase in a seamless manner.”
On receiving the 1,000th Akash Propulsion system hardware, Mr V. Udaya Bhaskar said, “Our partnership with L&T for the Akash Program is an exemplary example of Public-Private partnership. L&T has played a key role in enabling serial production of this critical missile system through innovation and use of advanced manufacturing technology.”
Dr. S Christopher, said “Association of Competent Industrial Partners as L&T in the early stages of the Program’s development cycle is a key success factor in propelling Akash Weapon System induction by the Users through accelerated industrialization phase. Akash is a contemporary Weapon System that has been inducted into the Indian Air Force & Army and has generated interest amongst nations across the world. I urge the industries to take the lead in exporting the system. Akash is one of the torch bearers of the “Design in India & Make in India” concept of the Government of India.”
