Exclusive: New Indian Akash Prime air defense missile destroys aerial targets in high altitude environment.

According to information published by the Indian DRDO (Department of Defence Research and Development), on July 17, 2025, the Akash Prime surface-to-air missile system successfully engaged and destroyed two high-speed unmanned aerial targets during operational trials conducted in the high-altitude terrain of the Ladakh sector. The tests were conducted at elevations exceeding 4,500 meters, demonstrating the missile system’s advanced capability to operate under extreme environmental and topographical conditions.
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The Indian DRDO Department of Defence Research and Development conducts a high-altitude trial of the Akash Prime air defense missile, successfully intercepting high-speed aerial targets in Ladakh at an altitude of over 4,500 meters. (Picture source: India DRDO)

The Akash air defense system is India’s first indigenous medium-range surface-to-air missile system, developed by DRDO to protect vulnerable assets and mobile formations from aerial threats including fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, helicopters, and drones. Designed for quick mobility and network-centric operation, the Akash system integrates launchers, multifunctional fire control radars, and command and control centers. It is capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously and provides all-weather, multi-directional defense coverage within a range of 25 to 30 kilometers, with an altitude coverage up to 18 kilometers.

Building on the technology of the original Akash air defense missile, Akash Prime is a significantly upgraded variant engineered to enhance performance in extreme environmental conditions, particularly in high-altitude and low-temperature operational theaters like Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. The most notable advancement is the integration of an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, providing 360-degree engagement capability and improved targeting precision over the older command-guided variant. While the legacy Akash missile relied on ground-based radar tracking and mid-course corrections, the RF seeker in Akash Prime allows the missile to independently track and lock onto targets during the terminal phase, enhancing hit probability against fast, maneuvering aerial threats.

Technically, Akash Prime maintains a similar range and altitude envelope to its predecessor, with a maximum range of 30 kilometers and a ceiling of 18 kilometers. However, it surpasses the original in terms of seeker accuracy, engagement reliability, and adaptability to electronic warfare conditions. The missile has been tailored for cold-weather operations, and its ground systems have been reconfigured with environmental hardening to ensure functionality in sub-zero temperatures and rugged terrain. This includes modified launch platforms, radar units, and command vehicles capable of deployment above 4500 meters.

The missile will be produced by Indian Company Bharat Dynamics Limited, while Bharat Electronics Limited will supply the radar systems, control centers, simulators, and support vehicles. Collectively, the missile and the upgraded ground-based systems are designated as the improved Akash Weapon System (AWS). The system was officially ordered in March 2023 and features an indigenous content level of 82 percent, which is expected to be increased to 93 percent in subsequent production. Additionally, Akash Prime has a reduced operational and logistical footprint, making it faster to deploy and easier to sustain in forward areas.

Akash Prime was first flight-tested in September 2021, where it successfully destroyed an aerial target simulating an enemy aircraft. The recent successful intercepts in Ladakh validate its improved performance under real-world conditions. In the latest trials, the missile accurately neutralized two high-speed unmanned aerial targets, confirming the effectiveness of its guidance system and aerodynamic stability at high altitudes.

With this demonstration, the new Indian-made Akash Prime air defense missile system is now nearing full operational status and is set to bolster India’s air defense capabilities in its most strategically sensitive border regions. The system not only strengthens India’s indigenous defense manufacturing ecosystem but also ensures a robust and resilient shield against evolving aerial threats in contested high-altitude zones.