According to official reports, a new variant of the Akash Prime missile was successfully flight-tested on Monday at the integrated test range in Chandipur, Odisha. In its first flight test, the ‘Akash Prime’ missile intercepted and destroyed an unmanned aerial target that mimicked an enemy aircraft, they added. The flight testing took place at around 4:30 p.m., according to officials.
“In comparison to the existing Akash system, Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active RF seeker for improved accuracy. Other improvements also ensure more reliable performance under a low-temperature environment at higher altitudes,” said an official.
Watch the Video here:
Modification of the ground system
The air test used a modified ground system from the existing Akash weapon system. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, and other stakeholders have been congratulated on the successful trial of the Akash primary missile, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The successful flight test, he said, demonstrates the DRDO’s capability in designing and developing world-class missile systems.
G Satheesh Reddy, Chairman of the DRDO, commended the crew on the missile’s successful flight test.
The Indian Army and Air Force will have much greater confidence in the Akash Prime system, he said, because the Akash system has already been inducted and is now being enhanced with more powerful missiles.
Details on Akash Prime
The Akash Prime is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The Akash SAM was created to replace Russia’s 2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful) missile system, which is currently in use
The Akash Prime has an indigenous Radio Frequency seeker that improves accuracy while intercepting targets in a variety of situations, including cold temperatures in high altitude operational zones like the northern and northeastern frontiers.
The nuclear-capable missile has a top speed of Mach 2.5 (almost 860 meters per second) and can reach a maximum altitude of 18 kilometers. From a distance of 30 kilometers, it can strike enemy aerial targets such as fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and ballistic missiles.
Other variants
In July, the Akash-NG, a new derivative of the Akash Missile, was successfully flight-tested. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) are producing Akash-NG, which was developed by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO institutes (BDL).
Akash-NG is a surface-to-air missile that can strike targets at a range of 60 kilometers and travel at speeds of up to Mach 2.5.
The Akash Prime and Akash NG are both variations of India’s first indigenously produced medium-range Surface to Air missile, the Akash Missile.
Because of its solid-fuel technology and high-tech radars, the missile is said to be less expensive and more accurate than America’s Patriot missiles.
Notable achievement for India
The achievement is notable because it is a step forward in India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat goal, which emphasizes self-reliance in defense.
A step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat
India is on the verge of becoming a defense equipment exporter rather than an importer. The Modi government has not attempted to hide it. It included the defense sector in its Aatma Nirbhar (self-reliance) economic development initiatives.
While the emphasis on domestic defense manufacture is a step in the right direction, some analysts argue that imports are often of higher quality than domestic items.
Until present, Israel Weapons Industry supplied India with Tavor X 95 rifles (IWI). According to The Print, these weapons are now manufactured in India and given to both central and state militaries.
