Akash missile Two regiments of upgraded Akash missile systems will be procured, said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

The Defence Ministry has approved procurement worth Rs 9,100 crore that includes two regiments of upgraded Akash missile systems.

The acquisition proposals were approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the Defence Ministry's highest decision making body on procurement, headed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Akash is a surface-to-air missile with a range of 25 km. One regiment consists of six launchers with missiles each.

"Pursuing the goal of indigenisation and self-reliance, the DAC approved procurement of two regiments of Akash Missile Systems under 'Buy (Indian)' category from M/s BDL. The 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," the defence ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The DAC also approved of Design and Development of Individual Under Water Breathing Apparatus (IUWBA) for T 90 tanks. The IUWBA is used by the crew of tanks as a safety gear and is required 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. "The equipment is being developed by DRDO and will give an indigenous solution to the Test Equipment used for checking the Guided Weapon System of Tank T-90," MoD said.