The Indian Air Force (IAF) has approved the addition of the Akash missile system to its arsenal in order to counter air threats in the country’s north-eastern region.

The missile will be used to protect strategic targets including airfields, bridges on the Brahmaputra River, railway junctions and power projects.

Airfields at Tezpur, Chabua, Jorhat and Mohanbari are some of the strategic installations, timesnow.tv reports.

Once approved by the defence acquisition council, four squadrons of Akash will be ordered to add to the two squadrons previously ordered on a trial basis.

The 5.78m missile features a 25-30km operational range, 18,000m flight ceiling, 2.8 to 3.5 Mach speed and 720kg launch weight.