Air Defense

Akash

Also known as
  • Akash Weapon System
  • Akash missile system
  • Akash SAM
  • Akash Mk 1
  • Akash Prime
  • Akash-NG

Akash is an Indian mobile surface-to-air missile system developed for point and area air defense of vulnerable sites and forces. During Operation Sindoor in the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict, Indian official reporting identified Akash among the indigenous air-defense systems used in the layered network that countered Pakistani drone and missile attacks.

Akash, Mobile short-range surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense
Image source: Akash Missile Launcher

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
India
Type
Mobile short-range surface-to-air missile system
Service note
In Indian service during the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict
Designer
Defence Research and Development Organisation
Designed
Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme era
Unit cost
Not consistently published
Produced
2000s-present
Number built
Not consistently published

Specifications

Range
4.5 km to 25 km
Altitude
100 m to 20 km
Missile length
5.87 m
Missile diameter
350 mm
Missile weight
710 kg
Guidance
Command guidance with phased-array radar support
Target set
Helicopters, fighter aircraft, UAVs, and other aerial threats
Battery features
Mobile system with group and autonomous modes, ECCM features, and simultaneous multi-target engagement
System Architecture

Akash is cataloged as a missile system rather than a missile round alone. BEL describes the weapon system as a networked air-defense package using multi-sensor processing, threat evaluation, command guidance, and phased-array radar support for engagements from multiple directions.

Engagement mode

Group and autonomous modes, with simultaneous engagement of multiple targets using multiple missiles.

Radar layer

BEL lists multifunction radar coverage, central acquisition radar coverage, and target tracking in track-while-scan mode.

Battery shape

DRDO-hosted export reporting describes an Akash battery with a Rajendra radar and four launchers, each armed with three interlinked missiles.

Sources: Akash Missile System; DRDO Akash Export Note.

Variants

Akash is the baseline missile-system family name. Public DRDO material separates the legacy Akash weapon system from Akash Prime, which adds an indigenous active RF seeker, and the later Akash-NG development branch.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Akash Mk 1Baseline Indian Army and Indian Air Force Akash configuration

DRDO describes the original Akash weapon system as a mobile short-range SAM inducted and operational with both the Indian Air Force and Indian Army.

Sources: DRDO Industry Partner - Akash

Akash PrimeUpgraded high-altitude configuration

DRDO says Akash Prime adds an indigenous active RF seeker for improved accuracy, combines command guidance with seeker-based terminal guidance, and had first-of-production equipment under integration in 2024.

Sources: DRDO Akash Prime, Successful Trial of Akash Prime at High-Altitude

Akash-NGNew-generation development branch

DRDO's Akash-NG user-evaluation reporting identifies a next-generation system with an indigenous RF seeker, solid rocket motor, multifunction radar, command-and-control unit, and missile launch vehicle.

Sources: DRDO Akash-NG User Evaluation Trials

Launch Platforms

Tata Advanced Systems identifies dedicated Army and Air Force launcher platforms for Akash missiles.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
Akash Army Launcher, Mobile launcher system for Akash medium-range surface-to-air missiles, Support EquipmentAkash Army LauncherMobile launcher system

The Akash Army Launcher product page describes a self-powered launcher on an 8x8 HMV that can transport and launch Akash missiles in single or salvo mode.

Sources: Tata Advanced Systems - Akash Army Launcher, DRDO Products - Akash

Akash Air Force Launcher, Trailer-mounted mobile launcher for Akash medium-range surface-to-air missiles, Air DefenseAkash Air Force LauncherMobile launcher system

Tata Advanced Systems identifies the Akash Air Force Launcher as a mobile launcher system for Air Defence Missiles and says it can transport and launch up to three Akash Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles in single or salvo mode.

Sources: Tata Advanced Systems - Akash Air Force Launcher

Timeline

Akash Key Events

  1. Indian Air Force induction

    DRDO-hosted reporting says Akash entered Indian Air Force service in 2014, followed by Indian Army induction in 2015.

    Sources: DRDO Akash Export Note

  2. Army-version AHSP transfer

    DRDO handed over the Authority Holding Sealed Particulars for the Indian Army version of the Akash Weapon System to MSQAA at Hyderabad.

    Sources: DRDO Akash AHSP Transfer

  3. Akash Prime production integration

    DRDO's Akash Prime product page said first-of-production equipment was ready and undergoing weapon-system integration, with missiles in phase checks at Bharat Dynamics Limited.

    Sources: DRDO Akash Prime

  4. First export battery reported

    DRDO-hosted reporting described the dispatch of a first Akash weapon-system battery and summarized the battery layout as a Rajendra radar with four launchers carrying three interlinked missiles each.

    Sources: DRDO Akash Export Note

  5. Operation Sindoor air-defense use

    PIB and DRDO-hosted reporting identified Akash among the systems used in India's layered air-defense response during Operation Sindoor.

    Sources: Operation SINDOOR: The Rise of Aatmanirbhar Innovation in National Security, DRDO in Operation Sindoor

  6. Akash Prime high-altitude trial

    PIB said Akash Prime destroyed two high-speed unmanned aerial targets at altitude in Ladakh, validating upgrades for high-altitude Indian Army air-defense use.

    Sources: Successful Trial of Akash Prime at High-Altitude

  7. Akash-NG user-evaluation trials

    DRDO-hosted reporting said Akash-NG completed user-evaluation trials against aerial targets at different ranges and altitudes, supporting induction readiness.

    Sources: DRDO Akash-NG User Evaluation Trials

Media

Akash Videos

Akash Images

Akash, Mobile short-range surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense - view 1
Source: Akash SAM
Akash, Mobile short-range surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense - view 2
Source: Akash Missile 11
Akash, Mobile short-range surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense - view 3
Source: Akash SAM
Related Weapon Systems
Akash Air Force Launcher, Trailer-mounted mobile launcher for Akash medium-range surface-to-air missiles, Air DefenseAir DefenseAkash Air Force LauncherTrailer-mounted mobile launcher for Akash medium-range surface-to-air missilesAkash Air Force Launcher (AAFL) is a Tata Advanced Systems mobile launch platform jointly developed with DRDO for the Indian Air Force's Akash medium-range surface-to-air missile units. The trailer-mounted, self-powered launcher carries up to three Akash missiles, supports single or salvo firing, and works as one node in a firing unit with control, radar, loading, and maintenance vehicles.
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Sources

Akash Weapon SystemPublisher: Bharat Dynamics Limited | Note: Supports manufacturer background and specifications for Akash range, altitude, dimensions, weight, guidance, target types, ECCM, and mobile configuration. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Akash Missile SystemPublisher: Bharat Electronics Limited | Note: Supports manufacturer background and system-level specifications for the Akash radar network, automation, command guidance, and simultaneous engagement capability. | Accessed: 2026-07-04DRDO Industry Partner - AkashPublisher: Defence Research and Development Organisation | Note: Supports official Akash background: mobile short-range surface-to-air system for vulnerable points and areas, simultaneous multi-target engagement, ECCM features, and operational status with the Indian Air Force and Indian Army. | Accessed: 2026-07-04DRDO Akash PrimePublisher: Defence Research and Development Organisation | Note: Supports Akash Prime variant context: indigenous active RF seeker, command guidance plus seeker-based terminal guidance, and 2024 first-of-production integration status. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Successful Trial of Akash Prime at High-AltitudePublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports Akash Prime high-altitude trial context, including the July 16, 2025 Ladakh test against two high-speed unmanned aerial targets and the upgraded RF-seeker configuration for Indian Army high-altitude air defense. | Accessed: 2026-07-04DRDO Akash AHSP TransferPublisher: Defence Research and Development Organisation | Note: Supports Akash development and service-history context, including the December 3, 2022 handover of the Indian Army version's Authority Holding Sealed Particulars to MSQAA. | Accessed: 2026-07-04DRDO Akash Export NotePublisher: Defence Research and Development Organisation | Note: Supports export and service-history context for Akash, including reported 2014 Indian Air Force induction, 2015 Indian Army induction, first export battery dispatch reporting, and the battery layout with Rajendra radar and four launchers. | Accessed: 2026-07-04DRDO Akash-NG User Evaluation TrialsPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports Akash-NG variant context, including user-evaluation trials, indigenous RF seeker, solid rocket motor, multifunction radar, command-and-control unit, missile launch vehicle, and engagement of aerial targets at different ranges and altitudes. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Operation SINDOOR: The Rise of Aatmanirbhar Innovation in National SecurityPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict direct use: Akash was used by India during Operation Sindoor as an indigenous air-defense system in the layered response to Pakistani drone and missile attacks. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Akash Missile, IACCS and Drones Drive India's Defence Success in Operation SINDOORPublisher: DD News | Note: Supports 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict direct use: Akash was used by India and played a role in neutralising drone and missile threats during Operation Sindoor. | Accessed: 2026-07-04DRDO in Operation SindoorPublisher: Defence Research and Development Organisation | Note: Supports 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict direct use: DRDO-hosted reporting identified Akash among the indigenous systems used during Operation Sindoor as part of India's air-defense response to Pakistani drone and missile attacks. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Akash Missile LauncherPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the Akash launcher photograph, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 by the uploader. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Akash SAMPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for an Akash test-firing photograph, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 India with VRT permission noted by Commons. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Akash Missile 11Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a close view of an Akash missile, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 by the uploader. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Rajendra Radar for Akash SAMPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the Rajendra radar used with Akash SAM, sourced to India's Ministry of Defence and licensed under Government Open Data License - India. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Tata Advanced Systems - Akash Army LauncherPublisher: Tata Advanced Systems | Note: Supports the Akash Army Launcher relationship as a mobile launcher system that can transport and launch Akash missiles in single or salvo mode. | Accessed: 2026-07-04DRDO Products - AkashPublisher: Defence Research and Development Organisation | Note: Supports the Akash launcher relationship as a public DRDO product reference for the Akash system family. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Tata Advanced Systems - Akash Air Force LauncherPublisher: Tata Advanced Systems | Note: Supports the Akash Air Force Launcher relationship as a mobile launcher system for Akash missiles. | Accessed: 2026-07-04