Akash Prime successfully tested: Air defence trial held at 15,000 ft in Ladakh; why it matters

NEW DELHI: Indian army on Wednesday successfully tested the Akash Prime air defence system at over 15,000 feet in the Ladakh sector , officials confirmed. The tests were carried out in the presence of officials from the Army Air Defence and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

During the trials, the surface-to-air missiles scored two direct hits on fast-moving target aircraft in a high-altitude zone with thin air.

Akash Prime is the third and fourth regiment of the Akash air defence systems in the Indian army, which also performed greatly during Operation Sindoor, thwarting attacks by Pakistan's chinaese aircraft and Turkish drones.

Since its development 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 designed for high-altitude and low-temperature conditions, and the Akash-NG, which offers a longer range and more advanced features.