How Made-in-India Akash missile system proved its mettle

In the immediate aftermath of India’s high-precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror hubs deep within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Islamabad attempted to mount an attempted counteroffensive aimed at hitting multiple Indian cities.

On Thursday, the defence ministry said the Pakistani military tried last night to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj but these attempts were foiled and a Pakistani air defence system was destroyed in Lahore.

The swift and coordinated deployment of India’s indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile system — along with the Indian Air Force's S-400 Triumf, often dubbed India’s “Sudarshan Chakra” — helped intercept and neutralize incoming threats, preventing what could have been a catastrophic escalation.

Akash: India’s Indigenous Air Guardian

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile defence system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the missiles produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited.

The missile system can target aircraft up to 45 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m. It has the capability to neutralize aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles.

An Akash battery comprises a single Rajendra 3D passive electronically scanned array radar and four launchers with three missiles each, all of which are interlinked. Each battery can track up to 64 targets and attack up to 12 of them.

• War head -- 60 Kg pre-fragmented high explosive war head
• Propulsion -- Solid booster and integral rocket/ramjet sustainer motor
• Operational Range -- 45 km
• Maximum Speed -- Mach 3.5
• Guidance system Mid-course: Command guidance with datalink
• Terminal: Active radar homing
• Launch platform T-72 or BMP-2 chassis or Tata Motors Heavy Mobility Trucks

The Role of S-400: India’s Strategic Umbrella

While Akash provided tactical, short-to-medium range air defence, the S-400 Triumf system—with a range of up to 400 km—offered long-range protection. Deployed strategically by the Indian Armed Forces, the S-400 systems tracked Pakistan's long-range missile threats and high-flying aircraft.

Key Features of S-400:

• Range: Can engage targets up to 400 km away.
• Altitude: Can hit targets flying as high as 30 km.
• Simultaneous Engagement: Tracks up to 300 targets and can engage 36 simultaneously.
• Missile Variety: Fires four different types of missiles, allowing it to engage aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, and even ballistic missiles.
• Radar: Equipped with powerful 91N6E Big Bird acquisition radar and 92N6E Grave Stone engagement radar for 360° coverage.
• Deployment: Systems are currently positioned in strategic zones including the western front and the national capital region.

According to sources quoted by News18, India used the Akashteer system, recently deployed along the western front, to create an advanced digital shield over the Line of Control and the international border.

The system integrated inputs from all radar sources — including ground-based radars and airborne early warning systems — and generated a live web of real-time data to precisely track aerial threats. This network enabled Indian forces to intercept and neutralise every missile launched from across the border that night, preventing damage to any intended targets.