- India’s Ministry of Defence said DRDO completed user evaluation trials of the Akash-NG air defense missile system.
- The system demonstrated intercept capability against high-speed, low-altitude, and high-altitude aerial targets.
India’s Ministry of Defence announced on Wednesday that the Defence Research and Development Organisation has successfully completed user evaluation trials of the Next Generation Akash surface-to-air missile system.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Akash-NG missile system demonstrated high accuracy against a range of aerial threats during the trials. These included high-speed targets, low-altitude threats, and long-range targets operating at high altitude, validating the system’s performance across multiple engagement scenarios.
As noted by the government, the trials were conducted as part of the formal user evaluation phase, which is required before a weapon system can be cleared for operational use. The successful completion of this phase indicates that the system has met the operational requirements set by the services.
The Akash-NG has been developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation as a successor to the existing Akash air defense system. The new variant is designed to address more demanding threat environments, including faster and more maneuverable aerial targets.
According to the Ministry, the missile is equipped with an indigenous radio-frequency seeker, allowing it to autonomously track and engage targets in the terminal phase of flight. The system also uses a dual-pulse solid rocket motor, which provides improved energy management and maneuverability during interception.
The Akash-NG is supported by fully indigenous radar and command-and-control systems. Officials said these components were developed domestically, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and allowing tighter integration across sensors, launchers, and fire control elements.
The Ministry of Defence said the system’s architecture is intended to improve reaction time and engagement accuracy, particularly against modern aerial threats that operate at varying speeds and altitudes. While specific performance figures were not disclosed, the government emphasized that the trials confirmed the system’s ability to engage diverse targets under realistic conditions.
The Akash-NG program is part of India’s broader effort to modernize its layered air defense network. The Indian Armed Forces currently operate a mix of legacy and newer air defense systems, and the introduction of Akash-NG is expected to enhance coverage against aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other airborne threats.
India has increasingly emphasized indigenous development of key defense systems, particularly in air and missile defense, where rapid advances in threat technology have driven demand for more capable interceptors and sensors. Programs like Akash-NG are intended to strengthen domestic industrial capacity while meeting operational requirements.