Akash Prime Successfully Tested in Ladakh by Army, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Indian Army conducted successful trials of Akash Prime, an upgraded version of the Akash missile, at 15,000 feet altitude in Eastern Ladakh.
• The tests were carried out jointly with scientists from DRDO, which developed the system.
• Two direct hits were scored on fast-moving aerial targets in a high-altitude, rarefied atmosphere.
• Akash Prime will be inducted into the Army as the third and fourth regiments of the Akash air defence system.
• The Akash is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed to intercept aerial threats.
• Separately, the Prithvi-II and Agni-I ballistic missiles were also successfully test-fired from Chandipur, Odisha.
• These tests validated technical and operational parameters under the Strategic Forces Command.

Detailed Insights:

• The Akash Prime is an improved variant of the original Akash missile, optimized for high-altitude performance and precision.
• Conducting tests in Ladakh signifies India’s strategic preparedness in sensitive border regions, especially under extreme environmental conditions.
• The Army Air Defence Corps, in coordination with DRDO, has been enhancing indigenous missile capabilities for more autonomous and efficient air-space management.
• Akash Prime’s integration into Army regiments underscores a widening of India’s indigenous missile defence deployment along vulnerable fronts.
• The successful validation of Prithvi-II and Agni-I missiles reflects India’s robust deterrence posture and readiness of the Strategic Forces Command.
• These developments align with India's larger vision of self-reliance in defence technology (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and a credible minimum deterrence strategy.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Akash Prime: A medium-range surface-to-air missile system capable of targeting aerial threats; features improved accuracy and high-altitude adaptability.
• Prithvi-II: A short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) with a strike range of ~350 km; liquid-fueled, developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
• Agni-I: A medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a range of ~700–900 km; part of India's nuclear-capable Agni series.
• Strategic Forces Command (SFC): A tri-services operational command responsible for India's nuclear arsenal and strategic missile forces.