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NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 5: The Indian Air Force would be placing an order next month for SpyDer missiles from Israel. The Israeli missiles will cost close to Rs 2,000 crore. Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi said at a press conference ahead of Air Force Day on October 8.
SPYDER is a low-level quick reaction surface-to-air missile system capable of engaging aircraft, helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, drones and precision-guided munitions. It provides air defence for fixed assets and for point and area defence for mobile forces in combat areas.
The system has 360° engagement capability and the missiles can be launched from the full-readiness state in less than five seconds from target confirmation. The kill range is from less than 1km to more than 15km and at altitudes from a minimum of 20m to a maximum of 9,000m. The system is capable of multi-target simultaneous engagement and also single, multiple and ripple firing, by day and night and in all weather conditions.
Tyagi, said that the Israeli purchase was because the Indigenous Akash missile was likely by early 2009, he said.long in coming. However it appeared that the Akash programme was “finally on the horizon”. User trials of the missile will be conducted in February next year, and induction was likely by early 2009, he said.
The Air chief dismissed the idea that the IAF was clamouring with South Block for a stronger commitment to modernisation. He had recently raised alarm over Pakistan's air force build-up with the Defence Minister.
But today Tyagi said he had never felt that the government was not listening to him. He also maintained that the IAF was on course to possibly acquire Mirage fighters from France and 80 new helicopters from Russia, apart from a range of other equipment. |
