After the Chinese intrusion into Indian territory in the recent past, India has become cautious towards any threat from China and is deploying six Akash surface-to-air missile across northern border to deter their jets, helicopters and drones from causing any damage to the country.
"IAF has deployed the first two Akash squadrons at the Mirage-2000 base in Gwalior and Sukhoi base in Pune. The next six squadrons, as approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, are to guard against any threat from the northern borders," The Times of India quoted a Defence Ministry source.
The Akash missiles being deployed at the Indian borders hold a capacity to destroy or "neutralize" multiple targets at an interception range of 25 km, and they are also said to work efficiently under eastern weather conditions.
The six Akash missiles are being deployed across the region to achieve "meaningful and credible deterrence" against China along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control (LAC).
India is taking all possible measures to counter any apparent threat from the Chinese side. Ahead of installing the Akash missiles, IAF has sent two Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters to Tezpur and Chabua in Assam, which is at the eastern sector of LAC and more Sukhoi squadrons have been deployed at the middle LAC sector in Bareilly.
The Defence Ministry has invested around ₹ 64,678 crore for upgradation of 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile to Army XVII Mountain Strike Corps by 2018-19, which is said to give "quick-reaction ground offensive punch" against China. Additionally, it is also set to base over 90,000 soldiers to deter China.
The measures to strengthen the military across LAC is reportedly being taken, as China is expected to base 21 fighter squadrons against India across its base in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and north of Tibet, where China has military forces are three times stronger than Indian soldiers.
