India's Akash Missile Can Now Hunt Enemy Jets From 80 Kilometres Out, and the World Is Taking Notice India's Akash air defence missile now flies at Mach 2.5, roughly 2981 kilometres an hour, and its newest variant, Akash-NG, can strike targets from as far as 80 kilometres away. From the Rajendra radar to Akash Prime and Akash-NG, each upgrade has put India's indigenous air defence network firmly in the global spotlight. India's homegrown Akash air defence system can now chase down enemy fighter jets, drones and cruise missiles at Mach 2.5, roughly 2981 kilometres an hour, and blow them out of the sky, while its newest version, Akash-NG, has pushed the missile's strike range out to 70 to 80 kilometres. That combination of speed and reach is exactly why armed forces around the world are keeping a close watch on this indigenous missile programme. The Rajendra Radar Is Both the Eyes and the Brain The real strength of the Akash system lies in the Rajendra radar that guides it. Built on 3D phased array technology, this radar can simultaneously track 64 separate targets from as far as 60 kilometres away. It also stays ready at all times to engage 12 of those targets at once, which lets the system respond even when it faces a swarm of incoming threats rather than a single aircraft. A Long-Range Sentry: the 3D Central Acquisition Radar Before the Rajendra radar takes over, the system's 3D Central Acquisition Radar does the early spotting. It can detect up to 200 enemy aircraft or missiles from 150 to 180 kilometres away and instantly flashes a warning to the command centre. The moment that alert comes in, the whole network switches on and the Rajendra radar locks onto the target almost instantly, leaving the enemy virtually no time to react. Four Launchers, Twelve Missiles, Always Ready to Fire A standard Akash battery is built around four self-propelled launchers, with three missiles mounted on each one. That means the battery always has 12 missiles primed and ready to fire at any given moment. This built-in firepower means the system can still respond effectively even if an adversary tries to attack from multiple directions or send in several targets at once. Built to Move With the Army, Wherever the Terrain One of the system's biggest advantages is that it is fully mobile. Whether it is rough, uneven terrain or an advancing column of army tanks, the Akash system can keep pace alongside them. Thanks to this mobility, a single deployment can shield roughly 2000 square kilometres of territory from aerial attack, making it equally useful along the border and at forward military posts. The Numbers Behind the Missile: Weight, Size, Speed and Range On paper, the missile weighs 720 kilograms, measures 5.78 metres in length and has a diameter of 35 centimetres. It flies at Mach 2.5, a supersonic speed of roughly 2981 kilometres an hour. Its strike range falls between 25 and 45 kilometres, and it can engage targets flying as high as 20 kilometres above the ground. The Ramjet Engine That Never Lets the Missile Slow Down Most rocket motors start losing speed once their fuel burns out, but the Akash gets around that problem with an integrated ramjet rocket engine. This engine continuously draws oxygen from the surrounding air during flight, letting the missile hold its speed all the way to the target instead of slowing down midway. That is what keeps it just as lethal at the far edge of its range as it is moments after launch. A Warhead Lethal Enough Even on a Near Miss The front of the missile carries a heavy warhead weighing between 55 and 60 kilograms. It is fitted with a proximity fuse, which means the missile does not even need to score a direct hit on an enemy aircraft. If it merely passes close enough to the target, the fuse triggers detonation and destroys the aircraft mid-air anyway. Akash Mark-1S Cut the Missile Loose From Ground Radar Akash Mark-1S was developed as an advanced surface-to-air missile system and was successfully test-fired in May 2019. Its standout feature is an indigenous active radio frequency seeker. Earlier versions of the Akash missile leaned heavily on ground-based radar and needed constant guidance from it to reach their targets, but this new seeker changed that completely. In its final flight phase, the missile now hunts down an enemy fighter jet, drone or cruise missile on its own and shoots it down without further help from the ground. That upgrade has meaningfully improved the missile's kill probability, or its ability to destroy a target in a single attempt. It can neutralise low and medium altitude threats within a range of 25 to 30 kilometres, and it is also largely unaffected by enemy electronic jammers or attempts to disrupt its radar. The upgrade has given both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army's air defence networks a significant boost, and it demonstrated that India has become fully self-reliant when it comes to critical seeker technology. Akash Prime Was Built for Icy, High-Altitude Frontiers Akash Prime was modified specifically to meet the special operational needs of the Indian armed forces, and it was successfully tested in September 2021 from the Chandipur test range in Odisha. What sets this missile apart is that it was designed specifically for deployment in high-altitude, extreme-cold regions such as Ladakh, Siachen and the North-East. Sub-zero temperatures and thin air usually put a missile's engine, fuel and sensitive electronics at risk of malfunctioning, but Akash Prime is fully capable of operating without interruption even in such harsh, icy conditions. It carries a further improved active RF seeker that tracks and locks onto targets with sharp precision, and its ground radar and supporting equipment have also been upgraded to modern standards. Under the Make in India initiative, this counts as a major achievement, since more than 82 percent of the missile's components are entirely indigenous. Along the Line of Actual Control near the China border, the missile acts as a reliable shield protecting critical military bases, forward airfields and strategic mountain passes from any sudden aerial or drone attack. Akash-NG Doubles the Range, With Trials Wrapped Up in December 2025 Akash-NG, or the new-generation missile, is being viewed as a major technological leap for India's air defence systems. Approved with a project budget of roughly ₹470 crore, this missile departs completely from the older Akash series. Where earlier versions relied on a ramjet engine, Akash-NG is fitted with a new and far more powerful dual-pulse solid rocket motor. It is noticeably lighter, and its aerodynamic design is sharp enough that its strike range has jumped from 25-30 kilometres directly to 70 to 80 kilometres, meaning it can now take out an enemy target from more than double the earlier distance. Its comprehensive user trials were completed successfully in December 2025, clearing the way for the missile to be inducted into the armed forces. Another major feature is that Akash-NG is canisterised, meaning the missile stays packed inside a sealed box that extends its shelf life and lets it be fired from a truck or rail-based mobile launcher within seconds of the order being given. It is equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array, or AESA, multi-function radar capable of detecting and destroying supersonic cruise missiles, stealth fighter jets and swarm drones attacking in groups, all from a considerable distance. Why the World Is Watching India's Missile Programme Closely From the Rajendra radar to Akash-NG, every upgrade shows that India is steadily making its air defence network more indigenous and more powerful. From an indigenous seeker to deployment on icy frontiers and now a doubled strike range, this progression shows that the Akash family has grown from a single missile into something closer to a complete air defence ecosystem. That is precisely why armed forces across the world are following India's missile technology, and its Make in India approach, with keen interest. What this means for you The growing strength of the Akash missile family will directly affect India's border security, taxpayer money and jobs in the domestic defence industry. • Security in border regions: Soldiers stationed and civilians living in border areas like Ladakh, Siachen and the North-East will get greater protection from aerial attacks. Since missiles like Akash Prime can keep operating in icy, high-altitude conditions, their deployment in these regions is expected to increase. • Confidence in national defence readiness: For citizens across India, it is reassuring that the country's air defence capability is being continuously upgraded to handle newer threats like drones and cruise missiles. With Akash-NG's range extended to 80 kilometres, the overall defensive shield gets stronger. • Jobs in indigenous defence manufacturing: More than 82 percent of Akash Prime's components are made in India, which creates direct work for domestic defence companies and engineers. As Akash-NG production orders increase, more manufacturing jobs could follow. • Use of taxpayer money: Roughly ₹470 crore has been spent on the Akash-NG project, funded from the government budget, meaning taxpayer money. With trials completed in December 2025, the missile could soon be inducted into the forces, likely leading to further budget allocations. Questions & Answers 1. What is the range of the Akash-NG missile? Akash-NG has a strike range of 70 to 80 kilometres, up from the 25-30 kilometre range of earlier versions. 2. How fast does the Akash missile fly? It flies at Mach 2.5, a supersonic speed of roughly 2981 kilometres an hour. 3. When was Akash Mark-1S successfully tested? It was successfully tested in May 2019. 4. Where is Akash Prime designed to be deployed? It is designed for deployment in high-altitude, extreme-cold regions such as Ladakh, Siachen and the North-East. 5. How much of Akash Prime is indigenous? More than 82 percent of the missile's components are entirely indigenous. 6. When were Akash-NG's user trials completed? Its comprehensive user trials were completed successfully in December 2025, clearing the way for induction into the armed forces. 7. How many targets can the Rajendra radar track at once? It can track 64 targets within a 60-kilometre radius and can engage 12 of them simultaneously if needed. 8. What was the project budget for Akash-NG? It was approved with a project budget of roughly ₹470 crore. https://trendkia.com/en/national/80-kilomitara-dura-se-hi-dushmana-ke-hosha-ura-degi-india-ki-yaha-ghataka-misaila-duniya-ki-najara-tiki-28311 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.