Indian Army Successfully Conducts Akash Prime Missile System Trial at High Altitude in Ladakh.

Science and Technology

On July 16, 2025, the Indian Army (IA) successfully carried out a high-altitude production model test of the upgraded Akash Prime missile system in the eastern Ladakh sector near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The trial was conducted at an altitude of approximately 4,500 metres (15,000 feet) to assess its combat readiness under extreme terrain and weather conditions.


      - The Akash Prime missile system, an enhanced version of the Akash Weapon System, is designed for high-altitude aerial defense. During the two-day testing period, the missile successfully intercepted and neutralized two high-speed unmanned aerial targets, demonstrating its improved response capabilities and operational efficiency for deployment in mountainous border regions.

      - This high-altitude testing was led by the Indian Army’s Corps of Army Air Defence (AAD) in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

      - The trial included industrial partners such as Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) based in Hyderabad, Telangana, and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) from Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Main Point :-   (i) Akash Prime is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed indigenously by DRDO. It is specifically optimized for intercepting hostile aerial threats at higher altitudes, featuring better performance in cold climates and complex terrains. It is equipped with a new indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved precision, making it more effective than earlier Akash variants.

      Additionally, on July 17, 2025, India also successfully conducted test-firing of nuclear-capable Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs) – Prithvi-II and Agni-I – from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha. These strategic tests were carried out by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) as part of routine readiness assessments.


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