MI2Watch: Akash to be BEL’s star at show; more IAF orders likely
Bengaluru, Feb 16: Home-grown Akash Missile System (AMS) is all set to storm this year's Aero India with Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) projecting it as the lead product in India's indigenous march, since Independence.
BEL is showcasing AMS as the perfect case study to refer to while sharing the advantages of a Make in India concept in aerospace and defence. AMS is the first indigenously-built missile defence system in India.
Military sources confirm to OneIndia that the Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to place additional procurement orders on BEL (49 firing units) in a phased manner. The IAF might immediately procure seven squadrons of AMS (consisting of 14 firing units.) The configuration of the seven new squadrons is likely to be similar to those being deployed currently.
Already commissioned in IAF arsenal
During an exclusive interview to OneIndia, Nataraj Krishnappa, General Manager (Missile Systems), BEL, said that the first order for AMS (worth about Rs 1200 crore, two squadrons) was placed by IAF in 2008. These squadrons have already been supplied, installed and commissioned.
"A repeat order from the IAF for six more squadrons of AMS (worth around Rs 3500 crore) came in December 2010 and four squadrons of the same have been already manufactured. All six squadrons will be completed ahead of schedule in 2015," says Nataraj, heading one of the most-talented teams in BEL.
The
Indian
Army
has
already
placed
an
order
on
Bharat
Dynamics
Limited
(BDL),
Hyderabad,
for
two
regiments
of
Akash
Weapon
System.
It
was
during
the
UPA
regime
the
decision
to
split
Akash
orders
were
taken
with
BEL
getting
IAF
orders
and
BDL,
the
Army
versions.
The
Ministry
of
Defence
(MoD)
had
then
felt
that
splitting
the
orders
would
encourage
competition
among
DPSUs.
However, BEL is supplying all the radars, control centres, satellite data-links to BDL for integration on Army variants of Akash systems. Further, BEL has developed the software for the entire system apart from having the contract from BDL to complete integration of all the elements and commissioning of the system.
To
a
specific
query
on
the
home-grown
content
on
AMS,
Nataraj
said
that
barring
few
electronic
components,
every
bit
has
the
‘Made
in
India' tag.
"The
design
and
manufacture
is
done
exclusively
within
India,
barring
certain
components
which
are
not
available
here.
As you know the electronic components manufacture in India is in its infancy and world over design and production is in the hands of few developed countries. Almost 85 percent of the total cost of inputs is sourced within India," he said.
BEL has received orders worth about Rs 4500 crore from IAF and their share in the Army version is over Rs 3000 crore, out of total work order of about 14000 crore. BEL has projected the estimated business potential from AMS over Rs 15000 crore, in future.
Make in India concept's best example
For the IAF version, BEL is the lead vendor and integrator. The surveillance radar, tracking radar, flight control centre, support systems and the integrated software for AMS are manufactured by BEL.
Akash missiles are supplied by BDL, while the launchers for missiles are being supplied by Tata Power / L&T and the squadron control centre is manufactured by ECIL. Integration of all equipment and software at the squadron level, installation and commissioning of AMS is being done by BEL. The weapon system software developed jointly by LRDE and BEL plays a crucial role in achieving the target destruction.
AMS protects vulnerable points and vulnerable areas with a slant range of 25-30 km at altitudes up to 20 km. It can destroy high-speed targets like fighter aircraft and UAVs. Except the final action of pressing the‘destroy' button, most of the major functions are done by the computer running on the weapon system software, being jointly developed by BEL and DRDO.
Challenges and lessons for BEL
BEL says that the AMS prototype was built on BMP Tanks and the development took several years. The first order for production came from IAF and the configuration of prototype was unsuitable for the user. Within just three years, BEL had to re-engineer the AMS on to truck/trailer-mounted version. Many systems that became obsolete were changed, before delivering the final product to the IAF.
BEL
adopted
a
concurrent
engineering
and
production
model
with
close
co-operation
of
all
the
DRDO
labs
and
other
industry
partners.
"This
was
a
daunting
task
but
all
the
objectives
were
achieved
and
the
first
squadron
was
completed
within
time," he
adds.
There are about 100 major vendors (including other units of BEL) spread all over India, who scripted this Make in India success story.
"We have huge number of stakeholders to be managed, including DRDO labs, various inspection agencies (MSQAA), Industry partners and the IAF. Communication management and conflict management are two sets of skills we learned from Akash project. It was definitely a new experience for BEL," he says.
Many trials on different modes
BEL says that the system was put in desert conditions and extreme cold conditions (Pokhran flight trials) during the prototype stage. PTAs (Pilotless Target Aircraft) pulling dummy targets were used most of the times for firing trials at Balasore.
At
times
fighter
jets
(including
Sukhois)
dropped
parachutes
fitted
with
targets,
and
on
few
occasions,
the
PTAs
were
fired
at
directly.
"Low
flying
targets
at
near
distances
were
successfully
destroyed
by
AMS.
High
altitude
far
boundary,
multiple
targets,
mid
altitude
and
mid-range
with
approaching
and
receding
targets,
etc
were
the
other
missions
which
were
successfully
conducted.
The
user
inputs
keep
us
working
on
newer
ideas
as
well," he
says.
After extensive trials, the IAF seems to be a happy customer. The IAF has tested the AMS capability in several simulated war scenarios and the results are said to be satisfactory. BEL says it can add any new features being demanded by the user within a short time.
DRDO's role and some names to remember
Team BEL gives the credit of AMS to former DRDO Chief Controller Dr Prahlada and Project Director (PD) Akash, late Dr R R Panyam from DRDL.
"The project is currently steered by G Chandramouli, Scientist ‘H'& OS, the current PD Akash and his team. The other senior scientists who have played pivotal roles with significant contribution in making the project successful are G N Rao, Scientist ‘G', DRDL, M Vijayakumar, Scientist ‘G', Dr R V Narayana, Scientist ‘H', both from LRDE, V V Parlikar, Scientist ‘G' from R&DE (E)," says Nataraj.
BEL
says
the
AMS
teams
are
scattered
all
over
India,
with
a
project
management
team
of
around
10
officers
located
at
BEL
Bengaluru.
"We
had
functional
teams
of
75
members,
including
D&E,
materials
management,
assembly,
software
and
testing
working
exclusively
for
the
project
here,"
he
says.
Role of private industry
Tata Power is one of the major partners in the programme, who are supplying the launchers, with work share arrangement between them and L&T. Astra Microwave, Hyderabad, Mak Controls, Coimbatore, Tata Motors and Icomm, Hyderabad, are few other major vendors.
There are scores of other smaller private industries contributing to the programme. MSME vendors have a significant share in the AMS project. "It's is a huge plus for us. It augurs well for all future projects we undertake," says Nataraj.
Different Akash versions
The Air Force version is built around trailers hauled by prime movers and the Army version uses BEML-Tatra vehicles for higher mobility in all terrains.
"This necessitated re-engineering. However, basically the concepts are the same. Certain modifications in electronics have been made as desirable improvements," he says.
The first regiment of Army is nearing completion and the second one would be completed ahead of schedule by mid 2016. At the show, BEL is exhibiting the Army version of AMS.
About AMS
Akash Missile System was developed as part of the IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme); initiated by DRDO under Dr A P J Abdul Kalam's command.
Various labs under DRDO and few Industry partners like BEL, BDL and Ordnance Factories were roped in for the programme. DRDO labs including DRDL, LRDE, RCI, and R&DE (E) have worked in tandem with the Industry partners.
The successful trials of prototype AMS was done in 2007. Agni and Prithvi are other successful star performers from the IGMDP block.
(Make in India Watch [MI2Watch] is a series on OneIndia focusing on the aerospace and defence might of India's private and domestic industries. It will also aim at capturing the voices of leaders spearheading various projects.)
(The writer is a seasoned aerospace and defence journalist in India. He is the Consultant Editor (Defence) with OneIndia. He tweets @writetake.)