India's Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) system had played a crucial role during the recent India-Pakistan military conflict, acting as a critical air-defence shield against incoming Pakistani drones, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The capabilities of this medium-range air defence system just got better as India successfully test-fired an advanced variant of this defence system, Akash Prime, recently.
The Indian Army carried out the trials of this advanced defence system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), at an altitude of 15,000 feet in the Ladakh sector.
The missile system hit two very fast-moving aircraft at a very high altitude during the trials.
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According to media reports, the Akash Prime system, equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, will form part of the third and fourth regiments of the Indian Army.
Compared to its previous version, Akash Prime has higher accuracy and better target discrimination because of the RF seeker, enabling greater precision against agile aerial threats such as fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.
The Akash Prime system can bring down airborne targets at a distance of around 25 to 30km, making it a great asset against drone and other airborne threats from Pakistan and China.
The system has been specifically optimised for reliable performance in low-temperature, high-altitude conditions, allowing it to operate effectively in areas like Ladakh.
