Platform profile · India · Mobile short-range surface-to-air missile family · Indian Army and Indian Air Force
Akash Surface-to-Air Missile Family (Akash Mk1S, Akash Prime and Akash-NG)
High activityBDL completed the Advanced Akash first-off production model on March 26, 2026 and said deliveries could start shortly.
On March 26, 2026, BDL completed the first-off production model of the Advanced Akash Weapon System and said deliveries to the armed forces could begin shortly. A month earlier, the Defence Minister flagged off combat systems for the Army's third and fourth Akash regiments, while Akash-NG had completed Indian Air Force user-evaluation trials in December 2025. Akash Prime also completed a first-of-production-model high-altitude firing in Ladakh in July 2025 after the government credited the family with stellar performance during Operation Sindoor. The family spans the ramjet-powered legacy system, the seeker-equipped Mk1S and Prime upgrades, and the compact solid-motor Akash-NG, with both Army and Air Force users. It matters because Akash supplies a largely indigenous, mobile layer of India's air-defence network while upgraded variants move into production and induction.
Updated 26 Mar 2026
Verified figures
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Legacy Akash range (current BDL webpage) | 4.5-25 km ↗ |
| Legacy Akash range (BDL 2021 brochure) | 3-25 km ↗ |
| Legacy Akash missile dimensions | 5.87 m long; 350 mm diameter ↗ |
| Legacy Akash launch mass | 710 kg ↗ |
| Legacy Akash speed (BDL 2021 brochure) | Mach 1.8-2.5 ↗ |
| Legacy Akash propulsion (BDL 2021 brochure) | Integral ramjet rocket ↗ |
| Legacy Akash warhead (BDL 2021 brochure) | High-explosive, pre-fragmented warhead with RF proximity fuze ↗ |
| Guidance by variant | Legacy: command guidance; Mk1S: command guidance plus active terminal seeker ↗ |
| Legacy Akash troop engagement capacity (BDL 2021 brochure) | Tracks 64 targets; launches 8 missiles against 4 targets simultaneously ↗ |
| Akash-NG missile propulsion and seeker | Solid rocket motor; indigenous RF seeker ↗ |
| Akash-NG sensor coverage | AESA multi-function radar: 120 km surveillance and 80 km fire control; EOTS: 45 km ↗ |
| Akash-NG simultaneous engagement | 10 or more targets in 360-degree azimuth ↗ |
Spec sources: bdl-india.in ↗ · bdl-india.in ↗ · pib.gov.in ↗ · pib.gov.in ↗ · bel-india.in ↗
Changelog
Program timeline
-
BDL completed the first-off production model of the Advanced Akash Weapon System with upgraded subsystems, demonstrated precision against diverse aerial threats, and said deliveries to the armed forces would begin shortly.
-
The Defence Minister flagged off Akash combat systems for the Indian Army's third and fourth regiments at BEL in Bengaluru and inaugurated a missile-integration facility.
-
DRDO completed Akash-NG user-evaluation trials after interceptions in near-boundary low-altitude and long-range high-altitude scenarios, paving the way for induction.
-
Akash Prime destroyed two high-speed unmanned aerial targets during a first-of-production-model firing trial in Ladakh; the Army variant was configured for operation above 4,500 m.
-
During the May 7-8 air-defence engagements of Operation Sindoor, the government said indigenous Akash systems delivered stellar performance within a layered network that neutralised drones and missiles.
-
Akash-NG intercepted and destroyed a high-speed unmanned target at very low altitude off Odisha, validating the complete missile, launcher, multi-function radar and command-and-control system before user trials.
-
BDL signed an INR 8,161 crore Ministry of Defence contract to produce and supply Akash weapon systems for two Indian Army regiments, with execution planned over three years.
-
DRDO transferred Authority Holding Sealed Particulars for the Indian Army version of Akash to the Missile Systems Quality Assurance Agency.
-
Akash Prime completed its maiden flight test at Chandipur, intercepting and destroying an unmanned target while validating its indigenous active RF seeker and high-altitude, low-temperature improvements.
-
Akash-NG completed its maiden launch off Odisha and intercepted a highly manoeuvring low-radar-cross-section target with textbook precision.
-
DRDO completed two Akash Mk1S tests on May 25 and 27, establishing the upgrade's indigenous seeker and combined command-guidance and active-terminal-seeker performance.
-
The Akash Weapon System was formally inducted into the Indian Army Air Defence Corps at New Delhi, marking operational entry of the indigenous mobile missile system.
0 tagged stories
Coverage
No tagged stories yet — coverage lands here automatically.