Successful trials of the Akash Prime missile were conducted in Ladakh on Wednesday, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday. The missiles scored two direct hits in the trials conducted by the Indian Army’s Army Air Defence, successfully destroyed two Aerial High Speed Unmanned targets.
The weapon system is customised to operate at an altitude of 4,500 metres. The Akash Prime missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), proved to be accurate and efficient, and has the latest upgrades including indigenously developed Radio Frequency seeker.
Akash Prime is an upgraded variant of the Akash weapon system built for the Indian Army. The test firing of the missile in Ladakh assumed significance as it is close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
"India, on July 16, achieved a significant milestone by successfully destroying two aerial high-speed unmanned targets at high altitude in Ladakh by Akash Prime, the upgraded variant of the Akash weapon system for the Indian Army," the ministry added.
The benefit of the ecosystem developed for the domestic weapon system is demonstrated by the numerous improvements made to increase operational effectiveness based on user operational feedback.
According to the statement, Army Air Defence and DRDO, in conjunction with Defence PSUs such as Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited, and other Industry Partners have successfully validated the indigenously designed and developed Akash Prime Weapon System.
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The third and fourth Akash regiments of the Indian Army are scheduled to receive Akash Prime's induction. The system had previously proven its operational efficacy during Operation Sindoor, where it was instrumental in thwarting Pakistani military aerial threats, such as Turkish drones and Chinese fighter jets.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented the Indian Army, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the industry on this "remarkable achievement", it said.
He described the success as a significant boost to India's air defence capabilities, particularly for meeting high-altitude operational requirements.
"Army Air Defence and DRDO, in conjunction with defence PSUs such as Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited, and other industry partners have successfully validated the indigenously designed and developed Akash Prime weapon system," the ministry said.
"The trials were done as part of first of production model firing trial and will further enable timely induction and enhance the air defence potential in high-altitude frontiers of the country," it said.
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