India Successfully Tests Homegrown Akash-NG Missile

India Successfully Tests Homegrown Akash-NG Missile 

Why in News? 

Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested the next-generation Akash missile (Akash-NG). The trials demonstrated precise interception of aerial targets across varying ranges and altitudes, reflecting India’s growing self-reliance in advanced missile defense technology.

Highlights of User Evaluation Trials (UET) of Akash‑NG Missile System

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) completed the User Evaluation Trials (UET) of the Next Generation Akash (Akash‑NG) missile system on 23 December 2025. 
• These trials were conducted under the supervision of DRDO and were attended by user representatives from the Indian Air Force (IAF). The trials mark a key milestone before formal induction into the Indian armed forces. 
• During UET, the Akash‑NG system demonstrated its capability to engage a variety of aerial threats across different flight profiles. The missiles successfully intercepted targets in near‑boundary low‑altitude scenarios and also engaged long‑range high‑altitude threats.
• The Akash‑NG missiles used in the trials were equipped with an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, developed fully in India. The missile also uses a dual‑pulse solid rocket motor, which supports quick reaction times and enhanced performance.

India’s Indigenous Akash-NG Missile

• The Akash-NG (Next Generation) is a next-generation surface-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India. 

• It is a part of Akash Missile Family and designed to protect Indian airspace from hostile aircraft, drones, and missile threats. The system forms part of India’s layered air defence network.  

• The original Akash missile project began in the early 1990s with the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) leading the effort. Later in September 2016, the Indian government approved the Akash-NG project with funding to develop a new generation missile that could handle evolving aerial threats. 

• Akash NG is a part of the Akash missile family that includes several distinct variants. Its Akash (Original) variant was India’s first indigenous surface-to-air missile system. It provided short-to-medium-range operational range of approximately 25 km. Later Akash-1S variants improved the interception range compared to the original system.

• Akash Prime version of this family included further electronic enhancements such as an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker and better target tracking. Akash Prime was tested in 2025 in high-altitude conditions, including above 15,000 feet in the Ladakh sector. 

Technological Advancements in Akash-NG

• Advanced Guidance Systems: Akash-NG uses an integrated guidance system that combines inertial navigation and real-time updates from ground radars to track its targets. The missile is an indigenous Ku-band Radio Frequency (RF) seeker built by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat. The system also includes an Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) that helps track targets without radar emissions.

• Propulsion System: The Akash-NG uses a dual-pulse solid rocket motor rather than the older ramjet engine of legacy Akash missiles. It gives the missile two bursts of thrust during flight. This helps it maintain speed and agility even when chasing fast aerial threats over longer distances. The lighter propulsion package also reduces the missile’s overall weight, which improves range and manoeuvrability. The solid rocket motor design allows the missile to operate effectively in all weather conditions.

• Radar Integration: The Akash-NG system is paired with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Multi-Function Radar developed jointly by DRDO and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). This AESA radar performs surveillance, target detection, tracking, and fire-control functions from a single platform. This radar also supports Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) functionality.

• Electronic Features: Akash-NG includes built-in Electronic Counter-Countermeasure (ECCM) capabilities. ECCM tools help the missile and radar system remain effective even when an enemy tries to jam or deceive them with false signals. The system also uses optical proximity fuzes that resist electromagnetic interference, ensuring the missile can detonate its warhead reliably near a target.

• Operational Flexibility: The Akash-NG launcher can transition from transport mode to ready-to-fire in under 20 minutes. Once a target is identified, the system can launch a single missile within about 10 seconds and fire a salvo of three missiles in 20 seconds. Reloading two stacks of missiles takes around 10 minutes. These quick timelines help the system react instantly during sudden air threats.

Significance for India

• Enhanced Interception of Aerial Threats: The Akash-NG is a major technological pivot designed to neutralize highly maneuverable and low radar cross-section threats. Its advanced AESA multi-function radar and an indigenous RF seeker provide far greater precision than earlier versions, allowing it to track up to 64 targets and engage 10 simultaneously in complex electronic warfare environments.
• Superior Tactical Mobility: The Akash-NG features a dual-pulse solid rocket motor, which reduces its weight by nearly half to approximately 350 kg while extending its operational range to 70–80 km. This lighter design, coupled with a 360° launch capability from sealed canisterized systems, ensures faster reaction times and high survivability for mobile army formations in varied terrains, including high-altitude border regions.
• Strengthening Strategic Self-Reliance: The successful development of the Akash-NG by the DRDO, with production by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), reinforces India’s commitment to indigenous defense manufacturing. With an indigenization rate exceeding 96%, the system serves as a critical “Made in India”, significantly reducing defense import dependencies and saving substantial foreign exchange.
• Elevating Global Status as a Defense Exporter: The Akash-NG is a flagship product for India’s emerging role as a global arms supplier, with total defense exports reaching a record ₹23,622 crore in FY 2024-25. Following the successful deployment of earlier Akash variants in Armenia, several nations, including Brazil, Egypt, the Philippines, and the UAE, have expressed strong interest in the Next-Generation model. This export potential strengthens India’s strategic influence and soft power across Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.