Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a modern missile integration facility at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bengaluru and flagged off the 3rd and 4th regiments of the Akash air defence system. He also unveiled the Mountain Fire Control Radar and remotely launched BEL’s Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence (COE-AI) in Pune, along with the company’s AI Policy.
During the visit, the Defence Minister reviewed BEL’s advancements in electronic warfare systems, avionics, naval combat systems, electro-optics, and tank electronics. He was briefed on ongoing indigenous R&D linked to major defence programmes such as QRSAM, LCA Mk2, AMCA, Project Kusha, and counter-drone systems. Singh emphasised that indigenous air defence and anti-drone systems have strengthened operational preparedness across land, air and naval domains while reducing dependence on foreign technology.
He emphasized that AI-powered threat detection, early warning systems, and network-based warfare capabilities are transforming India’s ability to be effective on the battlefield. Singh called for deeper collaboration between BEL, start-ups, academia, and industry partners to accelerate innovation and create globally competitive defense technologies, in line with the vision of a self-reliant India.
Technical Specifications of Akash Missile System
The Akash missile system is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile developed by the DRDO to provide area air defense against aircraft, cruise missiles, helicopters, and UAVs. The original Akash variant has an operational range of approximately 25–30 km and can engage targets at altitudes up to approximately 18 km at speeds of Mach 2.5 to Mach 3.
It uses command guidance supported by a Rajendra phased-array radar and carries a 60 kg high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead. The system is fully mobile, deployed on tracked and wheeled platforms, and integrates surveillance radar, fire control radar, and command-and-control units to engage multiple targets simultaneously.
The upgraded Akash-NG (New Generation) variant has significantly improved capabilities, increasing its operational range to approximately 70–80 km and its interception altitude to over 20 km. This improvement was achieved by replacing the previous ramjet propulsion system with a high-energy dual-pulse solid rocket motor, which improves range, speed management, and overall efficiency. The Akash-NG weighs approximately 350 kg, compared to the previous 700 kg. It features a canisterized launch system for easy transportation, faster reaction time, and improved mobility. It is equipped with an indigenous active RF seeker, which increases accuracy against high-speed and low radar cross-section targets.
The Akash-NG has successfully completed user trials with the Indian Air Force. Additionally, the Akash Prime variant incorporates an improved seeker for better performance in difficult environments, although the major improvement in range of over 70 km is specific to the Akash-NG version.
How Akash Strengthens India Against China and Pakistan
The induction of additional Akash regiments significantly enhances India’s layered air defence network along the northern and western borders. Against China, the system provides protection for forward air bases, strategic assets and troop concentrations in high-altitude areas, especially when integrated with other systems like S-400 and upcoming Project Kusha platforms. Its ability to track and engage multiple aerial targets simultaneously makes it effective against coordinated air or drone attacks.
Against Pakistan, Akash offers robust defence against fighter aircraft, stand-off weapons and UAV incursions. Its mobility allows quick redeployment across sectors, ensuring flexible response during high-intensity conflict scenarios. The indigenous nature of the system ensures uninterrupted supply, maintenance and upgrades during wartime, which is a critical strategic advantage.
With improved radar networking, AI-enabled early warning and indigenous command-and-control systems, Akash acts as a force multiplier and strengthens India’s air defence grid, making it a key game changer in maintaining aerial superiority in the region.
