*Guwahati – ndian Air Force seek deployment of six squadrons of Air DefenceMissiles along Pakistan border, Indian media has reported. *

In a bid to boost to Air Force’s capability to take down enemy fighteraircraft, the government has cleared the procurement of six squadrons ofthe indigenous Akash air defence missile systems worth Rs 5,000 crore to bedeployed on the borders with Pakistan and China.

“The Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modirecently cleared the project for the Air Force. The Defence Ministryinformed the Air Force about the government decision today,” governmentsources said.

The three-year-old proposal for the acquisition of the Akash missiles isbeing seen as the whole-hearted acceptance of the indigenous missile systemamong the armed forces as this clearance would increase the number of Akashsystems ordered for the Air Force to 15, the sources said.

The initial order for the Akash by the Air Force was for two squadrons andthe increased orders show the faith it has in the system, they said.

During an exercise in Surya Lanka held last year, the Akash missile systemwas tested along with all other air defence missiles including Israeli onesin the Air Force inventory and it came out as the best performer.

Akash missile has been chosen by the Defence Ministry over foreign systemsalso as the government scrapped an Army tender worth over Rs 17,000 croreto favour the Akash.

The missile proposal has been cleared for the Air Force after the servicefelt the need for more such weapon systems in wake of the February 27post-Balakot strike scenario when Pakistanis has launched a counter-attack.