 "Akash Prime: How India’s latest weapon system strengthens its arsenal and sends signal to China and Pakistan")
India successfully test fired its new version of the Akash surface-to-air missile system.
The new weapon, known as Akash Prime, was tested at Ladakh.
Manufactured by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Akash surface-to-air missile system’s performance was lauded during Operation Sindoor – which India conducted in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
It is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system that can take out fighters, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.
What is Akash Prime? What do we know about the upgraded missile? And why is it successful test-firing significant?
Let’s take a closer look
What is it? What happened?
Akash Prime is a high-altitude version of the indigenously-designed and developed Akash surface-to-air missile system.
The missile is designed to operate in extremely cold weather and at high-altitudes – above 14,000 feet.
It features several upgrades including an indigenously-developed radio frequency seeker.
This not only increases the Akash Prime’s accuracy, but also afford it 360-degree capability to engage with enemy missiles.
It also has a modified ground systems and radars that gives it a 30-kilometre radius.
New Delhi is also testing the Prithvi-II and Agni-I missiles.
That compares favourably to the 25-kilometre radius of the Akash weapon system.
It is mounted on a mobile platform, which allows it to be deployed quickly.
The Army Air Defence and DRDO conducted the test on Wednesday at an altitude of over 15,000 feet.
The test was conducted in the presence of Indian Army and industry officials.
The missiles successfully took out two quick-moving aerial targets.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said, “Based on the operational feedbacks from users, various upgrades are made to improve the operational effectiveness, demonstrating the advantage of the ecosystem created for the indigenous weapon system.”
Its first test occurred on September 27, 2021, at Chandipur’s Integrated Test Range.
Why is it successful test-firing significant?
This is a message to both China and Pakistan.
India during Operation Sindoor used the Akash system to shoot down Pakistan’s Chinese-made drones and Turkish-made loitering munitions.
India, which has had border conflicts with both nations, has designed the Akash system to specifically function at high altitudes.
Army Air Defence is now raising two regiments of Akash Prime system – which will likely be the third and fourth regiments in India’s Akash defence system.
It will be deployed along the border and mountainous areas and could prove an effective deterrence for both China and Pakistan.
The Akash Prime surface-to-air system isn’t the only one being prepped.
India is also working on its Akash NG (Next-generation) variant.
Both these short-range ballistic missiles were successfully test-fired from Odisha’s Integrated Test Range by Strategic Forces Command (SFC) on Thursday.
“Short-Range Ballistic Missiles - Prithvi-II and Agni-I - were successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha on July 17, 2025,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement. “The launches validated all operational and technical parameters. These tests were conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.”
The SFC controls India’s nuclear assets under the triad – the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.
The Agni-I is a two-stage solid propellant missile.
It is nuclear capable and has a range of around 700 kilometres to 900 kilometres.
It can be launched by road and rail and can carry a payload of 1,000 kilos.
The Prithvi-II, meanwhile, has a range of around 250 to 300 kilometres.
It uses a liquid propulsion system and advanced inertial navigation technology that allows it to efficiently take out its targets.
It was developed by the DRDO under India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), which was launched in 1982 by the defence ministry.
The Prithvi-II can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.
Unlike the Agni-I, it uses a liquid propulsion system.
It is equipped with advanced inertial navigation technology for precision targeting.
Some say this constitutes some strategic messaging to Pakistan soon after Operation Sindoor.
It is also yet another string in India’s impressive bow of weapons when it comes to air defence and gives a fillip to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ push.
Some countries including Brazil, Philippines and Egypt have also expressed interest in the Akash system after seeing its impressive performance during the conflict.
Armenia earlier purchased the Akash weapons system.
This would give a fillip to India’s defence exports, which has already seen a 30-fold increase over the past decade – from Rs 686 crore in FY 2013-14 to Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24.
Defence exports grew from Rs 4,312 crore in the 2004-14 decade to Rs 88,319 crore in the 2014-24 decade – a 21-fold increase.
With inputs from agencies
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