Project Akashteer

12th June, 2023 Defence

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Context: Automated Air Defence Control & Reporting System ‘Project Akashteer’ to automate the air defence systems was launched.

About ‘Project Akashteer’ :

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Ministry of Defence had signed a contract for the procurement of Automated Air Defence Control & Reporting System ‘Project Akashteer’ worth Rs 1,982 crore for the Indian Army in April 2023.
Project Akashteer is a new automation initiative under which a range of new systems, mostly indigenous, are being inducted, with new technologies factoring in the new realities.

Importance of the project:

It will build a comprehensive air defence picture for the monitoring, tracking and shooting down of air defence assets.
This will link all the radars and control centres of AAD and consolidate the air defence picture, removing duplications or overlaps and also integrate all the weapons.
Project Akashteer’ will empower the Air Defence units of the Indian Army with an indigenous, state-of-the-art capability, to effectively operate in an integrated manner.
Akashteer will enable monitoring of low-level airspace over the battle areas of the Indian Army and effectively control the Ground Based Air Defence Weapon Systems.

Other Systems included in Defense systems recently for indigenisation are:

Sarang system:

Sarang is an advanced Electronic Support Measure system for helicopters of the Indian Navy, designed and developed indigenously by Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad under programme Samudrika.
The scheme will generate an employment of approximately two lakh man-days over a period of three years.
Both the projects will encourage participation of Indian Electronics and associated industries, including MSMEs, who are sub vendors of BEL.

Advanced Communication Satellite:

It was a Rs 3,000 crore contract signed with NewSpace India Limited for an Advanced Communication Satellite for the Indian Army.
The satellite will considerably enhance the communication capability of the Indian Army by providing mission-critical beyond line of sight communication to troops and formations as well as weapon and airborne platforms.
The geostationary satellite, being a first-of-its-kind in the five-tonne category, will be developed indigenously by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Many parts and sub-assemblies and systems will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers, including MSMEs and start-ups, thereby giving a fillip to the private Indian space industry, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
The project will generate employment of approximately three lakh man-days over a period of three and half years.

Conclusion

Many parts and sub-assemblies and systems will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat by India. The need today is for a comprehensive air defence solution.India needs to build the capability of indigenous manufacturers.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q. Consider the following statements about Project Akashteer:

1.Project Akashteer is a new automation initiative of the Ministry of Defense.

2. Akashteer will enable monitoring of low-level airspace over the battle areas of the Indian Army.

Which of the above statements are correct?