• The Indian Army successfully test-fired indigenously developed Akash Prime missile in Ladakh that has been customised to operate at an altitude above 4,500 metres. 

• Akash Prime is the upgraded variant of Akash Weapon System for the Indian Army.

• It achieved a significant milestone by successfully destroying two aerial high speed unmanned targets at high-altitude in Ladakh on July 16.

• The weapon system is customised to operate in altitude above 4,500 metres and has latest upgrades including indigenously developed radio frequency seeker. 

• Based on the operational feedback from users, various upgrades are made to improve the operational effectiveness, demonstrating the advantage of the ecosystem created for the indigenous weapon system.

• Army Air Defence and DRDO, in conjunction with defence PSUs such as Bharat Dynamics Limited & Bharat Electronics Limited, and other industry partners successfully validated the Akash Prime Weapon System. 

• The trials were done as part of the first of production model firing trial and will further enable timely induction and enhance the air defence potential in high-altitude frontiers of the country.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)