On July 16, 2025, India achieved a significant milestone in its air defence capabilities by successfully destroying two high-speed unmanned aerial targets at high altitude in the Ladakh sector using the Akash Prime missile system—the upgraded variant of the indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile (Press Information Bureau, DD News).
Key features and context:
-
Akash Prime is tailored to operate above 4,500 meters (15,000 ft) and includes enhancements such as an indigenously developed Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, improving target acquisition and terminal-phase tracking (Press Information Bureau, The New Indian Express).
-
The trials were part of a First of Production Model (FoPM) firing test, designed to validate performance ahead of induction into service (Press Information Bureau, DD News).
-
The system was developed jointly by the Army Air Defence, DRDO, Bharat Dynamics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, and other industry partners (Press Information Bureau, The New Indian Express).
-
This test follows the robust performance of India’s indigenous air defence systems during Operation Sindoor, which demonstrated their effectiveness in real-world scenarios (Press Information Bureau, The New Indian Express).
-
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the teams involved, calling it a “significant boost” to India’s high-altitude air defence posture (Press Information Bureau, The Economic Times).
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
Question 1:
Where did India conduct the successful high-altitude test of the Akash Prime missile system on July 16, 2025?
A) Siachen Glacier
B) Leh Airbase
C) Ladakh sector
D) Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: C
Explanation: The successful test destroying two aerial unmanned targets was conducted in the Ladakh sector, above 4,500 meters. (Press Information Bureau, DD News)
Question 2:
What altitude (in feet) did the Akash Prime missile successfully operate at during the test?
A) 10,000 ft
B) 12,000 ft
C) 15,000 ft
D) 18,000 ft
Answer: C
Explanation: The missile was tested at an altitude exceeding 15,000 feet (approx. 4,500 meters), demonstrating its high-altitude capability. (www.ndtv.com, The Times of India, The Economic Times)
Question 3:
Which new feature enhances the target-tracking capability of the Akash Prime missile?
A) Infrared camera
B) Laser guidance
C) Indigenous RF seeker
D) GPS navigation
Answer: C
Explanation: Akash Prime includes an indigenously developed Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, improving terminal guidance and target tracking. (Press Information Bureau, The New Indian Express)
Question 4:
Which entities were involved in the development and validation of the Akash Prime system?
A) DRDO and HAL only
B) DRDO, Army Air Defence, BDL, BEL, and industry partners
C) Indian Air Force and ISRO
D) DRDO and foreign manufacturers
Answer: B
Explanation: The system was developed and validated by DRDO, Army Air Defence, Bharat Dynamics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, and various industry partners. (Press Information Bureau, The New Indian Express)
Question 5:
The test of Akash Prime follows its performance during which operation?
A) Operation Snow Leopard
B) Operation Rakshak
C) Operation Sindoor
D) Operation Trishul
Answer: C
Explanation: The test comes after the commendable performance of India’s indigenous air defence systems during Operation Sindoor. (Press Information Bureau, The New Indian Express)
