India Successfully Tests Akash Prime Missile System In High-Altitude

Akash Prime successfully intercepts high-speed aerial targets during high-altitude trials in Ladakh, marking a major leap in India’s indigenous air defence capability and strengthening operational readiness in mountainous border regions.

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Image Courtesy: PIB

Ladakh: India achieved a major milestone in indigenous defence capability development with the successful high-altitude trial of the Akash Prime Weapon System in Ladakh.

In a significant demonstration of technological advancement and operational readiness, the Indian Army, in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), successfully intercepted and destroyed two high-speed aerial targets at an altitude exceeding 4,500 metres using the Akash Prime, an upgraded variant of the Akash surface-to-air missile system.

The Akash Prime system, tailor-made for deployment in challenging terrain and high-altitude regions, showcased its precision and adaptability by neutralizing unmanned aerial threats during the First of Production Model (FoPM) firing trials.

This success underlines India’s growing self-reliance in strategic defence systems and validates the country’s efforts in strengthening its frontier defence capabilities.

Developed by DRDO with support from Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) such as Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), along with other industry partners, Akash Prime incorporates several cutting-edge upgrades.

Among these is an indigenously developed Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, enhancing its target acquisition and engagement capabilities in adverse conditions. These improvements were integrated based on operational feedback from field units, reflecting a user-oriented, iterative development process.

The trials were conducted under the supervision of the Indian Army’s Army Air Defence units and were aimed at validating the performance of the missile system in the country’s rugged northern borders.

The success of these tests is expected to expedite the formal induction of the Akash Prime system into the Army’s air defence regiments.

This milestone also comes on the heels of the stellar performance of India’s indigenous missile systems during Operation Sindoor, a recent military operation that drew international attention for its effective deployment of homegrown technology in real combat scenarios.

The growing reputation of Indian defence platforms, particularly in missile technology, is positioning India as a significant player in the global defence market.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated all stakeholders, including the Indian Army, DRDO scientists, and industry partners, for the successful test. In a statement, he said,

“This achievement is a substantial enhancement to our air defence capability, especially in high-altitude theatres. The continued progress in indigenisation reflects our unwavering commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.”

Dr Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, also lauded the achievement, stating that the Akash Prime has fulfilled a critical need in India’s air defence matrix.

“The successful validation of Akash Prime under such extreme conditions is a testimony to our robust R&D ecosystem and the close synergy between DRDO, the armed forces, and industry,” he said.

Akash Prime is a next-generation evolution of the original Akash missile system, which has been operational with the Indian Armed Forces for over a decade.

While retaining the core architecture of its predecessor, Akash Prime includes modifications to improve low-temperature operation, altitude adaptability, and tracking precision.

The addition of the RF seeker is a major leap, enabling the missile to independently home in on targets with greater accuracy and reduced reaction time.

India’s missile development program has seen rapid strides in recent years, with an increasing emphasis on self-reliance, innovation, and adaptability to changing combat requirements.

With the successful test of Akash Prime, India has once again demonstrated its ability to develop and deploy advanced defence technologies suited to its unique strategic landscape.

The induction of this upgraded system is expected to significantly bolster India’s air defence shield, particularly along the northern borders, where high-altitude operations pose unique challenges.

It also reinforces the effectiveness of the integrated approach adopted by India’s defence establishment, combining military operational insight with indigenous industrial and scientific expertise.

As India continues to modernise its defence forces with an emphasis on indigenous capabilities, the success of the Akash Prime trial sets a strong precedent for future systems tailored to specific battlefield requirements, and signals India’s readiness to meet emerging aerial threats with homegrown solutions.

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