The Indian Army, to further strengthen the air defence system, has carried out successful trials of the indigenously developed Air Defence System “Akash Prime” in Ladakh.
A senior official confirmed that the Army Air Defence Corps conducted the trials in collaboration with senior scientists from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which developed the missile system.
The two-day trial was conducted at an altitude of over 15,000 feet in eastern Ladakh on Tuesday and Wednesday. "The Akash Prime system demonstrated its operational readiness by scoring two direct hits against fast, manoeuvring target aircraft under difficult high-altitude conditions," said officials interviewed by ANI.
The latest version of the Akash system would form the third and fourth regiments of the Akash air Defence Systems in the Indian Army. Akash Prime is an upgraded version of the Akash system, equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency seeker for enhanced precision irrespective of weather and terrain.
It was initially used during Operation Sindoor to counter aerial threats from Pakistan, and the results were good, said the official.
The Akash air defence system is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile platform designed to protect mobile, semi-mobile and static military installations from a range of aerial threats. It can be deployed at heights up to 4,500 metres and can take down targets at a distance of around 25-30 KM.
Since it was developed in 2009, the Akash missile system has been continuously upgraded to meet different operational needs. Variants include the original Akash Mark-I, the Akash-1S with an indigenous seeker. The Akash Prime is designed for high altitude and low temperature conditions, and the Akash-NG, which offers a longer range and more advanced features.
