‘BrahMos primary offensive weapon, Akashteer used for defence’: DRDO chief on Op Sindoor arsenal

As per the DRDO chairman, BrahMos missiles launched chiefly from Sukhoi Mk 1 were used in the offensive phase, while the Akashteer anti-drone Akashteer system served as the backbone of the defensive arsenal

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chairman Samir Kamat on Saturday highlighted that India’s BrahMos missiles and the Akashteer defence systems were vital to the success of Operation Sindoor, undertaken as a response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

As per the DRDO chairman, BrahMos missiles launched chiefly from Sukhoi Mk 1 were used in the offensive phase, while the Akashteer anti-drone Akashteer system served as the backbone of the defensive arsenal.

"When it comes to offensive weapons, BrahMos was the primary weapon used, which was launched from our Sukhoi Mark 1 platform. When it comes to defensive weapon systems, the Akashteer system, the anti-drone system and the MRSAM were used," the DRDO chairman was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

He further noted that the Akashteer system played a key role in spotting incoming threats to India and selecting the right weapons for their elimination.

"All the sensors were networked using the Akashteer, which helped in identifying the threats coming towards us and then deploying the right kind of weapon to neutralise those threats. Advanced early warning and control aircraft were also used for advanced surveillance. This is broadly what I can say without getting into too much," the DRDO Chairman said.

Earlier, expressing pride over the growing strength of India's defence research and development sector, Kamat mentioned, "It's indeed a proud moment for all of us. It's a reflection of the strength of our R&D and production in the defence domain. I'm sure going ahead, this number will keep increasing."

Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor was carried out by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir that left 26 dead.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded India’s defence capabilities during the conflict, saying, “The world saw the capabilities of our indigenous weapons. Our air defence systems, missiles, and drones have proved the strength of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', especially the BrahMos missiles.”