Watch: Army tests Akash Prime missile system in Ladakh; destroys 2 targets at 15,000 ft

NEW DELHI: The Army has successfully tested the Akash Prime air defence system at an altitude of over 15,000 feet in the Ladakh sector. The trial took place on July 16 and was carried out by the Army Air Defence in coordination with officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which developed the system.

According to a post shared by the Ministry of Defence on X, the Akash Prime system destroyed two high-speed unmanned aerial targets during the trial.

"India has achieved a significant milestone by successfully destroying 2 Aerial High Speed Unmanned targets at high altitude in Ladakh Sector on 16th July by Akash Prime, which is the upgraded variant of Akash Weapon System for the Indian Army ," the ministry said.

Akash Prime is expected to be used in the third and fourth regiments of the Akash air defence systems in the Army.

The system was also used during Operation Sindoor, where it was involved in preventing aerial attacks by the Pakistan military, which included Chinese aircraft and Turkish drones, as per a report by the news agency ANI.

Compared to the existing Akash system, Akash Prime includes an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved target accuracy. It also has changes that support reliable use in cold temperatures and high-altitude conditions. A modified ground system from the earlier Akash version has been used in the new system.

The system can operate at heights up to 4,500 metres and is capable of targeting objects at a range of around 25 to 30 kilometres.