Akash Prime, Successful Trial Of DRDO’s Lethal Weapon

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What has happened?

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Monday conducted the maiden flight test of the new version of Akash Missile — Akash Prime.
This comes months after the maiden test of another Akash version, Akash-NG (New Generation), in January.

The development of the Akash SAM was started by the DRDO in the late 1980s as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
The initial systems trials and field trials along with the target neutralisation trials were conducted in the late 1990s and 2000s.
These were followed by extensive user trials by the Indian Air Force and Indian Army.
Named after the original Sanskrit term for sky or space, Akash is primarily a Short Range Surface to Air Missile built to provide air defence cover to the vulnerable areas.
The Akash weapon system can simultaneously engage multiple targets in group mode or autonomous mode.
It has built-in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) features, which means that it has mechanisms on-board that can counter the electronic systems that deceive the detection systems.
The entire weapon system has been configured on a mobile platform.
A full Akash missile system comprises a launcher, set of missiles, a control centre, a built-in mission guidance system and a C4I (command, control communication and intelligence) centres and supporting ground equipment,
Along with a radar named Rajendra which accompanies each of the missile batteries.

Following the induction of the earlier version of Akash in the 2010s, the Indian Air Force and Indian Army currently operate multiple missiles, with some more in the pipeline.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Akash Missile system is 96% indigenised, one of the highest proportions of the indigenisation.
In December 2020, the cabinet approved the Akash missile for exports after many friendly foreign countries showed interest in it during various international exhibitions.

The initial version of the Akash has an operational range of 27-30 km and a flight altitude of around 18 km.
The Akash Prime, which underwent its maiden flight test on Monday from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha, has the same range as that of the earlier version but has a crucial new addition —
That of an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy to hit aerial targets.
Other improvements in the system ensures more reliable performance under low temperature environments at higher altitudes.
These new additions have been made after receiving feedback from the IAF and the Army for deployment of the system to provide air defence cover for vital installations and
sensitive areas in high-altitude regions.

Earlier this year, on January 25, the DRDO conducted the successful maiden launch of Akash-NG or New Generation Missile from ITR.
Akash-NG is a new generation SAM, primarily designed for the IAF with an aim of intercepting high maneuvering aerial threats that have low Radar Cross Section (RCS), which is the electromagnetic signature of the object.
Along with the increased lethality of striking threats with significantly small electromagnetic signature, the NG version has an extended range of up 70 km, is sleeker, lighter and has much smaller ground system footprint.

A senior DRDO scientist said, “The earlier version of the Akash system did the important job of reducing the dependence on old air defence systems of Russian origin.
The already inducted units of the Akash missile system now provide a robust air defence cover to vital installations of the defence forces.
However, the nature of threats keeps evolving with time, and newer versions of the weapon systems have to be developed.”
The scientist added, “With advancement in material sciences, engineering techniques and better availability of components within India, the development cycles of the missiles have become significantly shorter than before.”

The Akash NG and Prime versions are slated to undergo extensive field and user trials before they are up for induction into armed forces.
The Akash missiles have been developed by DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad under the Missiles and Strategic Systems (MSS), in collaboration with several other DRDO facilities in the country along with industry partners.

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