In a boost to its air defense capabilities, particularly in the challenging high-altitude terrain bordering its northern frontiers, India successfully conducted a high-altitude trial of the Akash Prime missile system on July 16, 2025.
This critical achievement, coming on the heels of the ongoing Operation Sindoor and in the strategic context of the Galwan clashes, underscores India’s accelerated drive for indigenous defense self-reliance.
The upgraded Akash Prime missile, specifically tailored for operations above 4,500 meters (approximately 14,760 feet), flawlessly intercepted and destroyed two high-speed unmanned aerial targets in Ladakh. This successful test of the Akash Weapon System variant for the Indian Army marks a pivotal milestone for the nation’s indigenous defense development.
A key enhancement of the Akash Prime system is its indigenously developed Radio Frequency seeker, a testament to India’s burgeoning capabilities in critical defense technologies. These advancements were directly informed by invaluable operational feedback from ground forces, highlighting a robust ecosystem for indigenous weapon system development.
The successful validation was a collaborative triumph, involving the Army Air Defense, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), public sector giants like Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited, and various other industry partners. Conducted as part of the First of Production Model firing, this trial paves the way for the timely induction of the system, poised to significantly bolster India’s air defense potential in its high-altitude operational areas, a region that gained critical prominence during the Galwan clashes.
Akash Prime Success Builds on Operation Sindoor’s Momentum
This latest success holds particular significance following the exceptional performance of India’s indigenously developed air defense systems during Operation Sindoor. The Akash Prime’s successful trial further underscores a major leap forward for the nation’s missile development programs, which are now attracting considerable attention in the global defense market.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh lauded the Indian Army, DRDO, and the industry for this remarkable accomplishment. He emphasized that the success provides a substantial boost to India’s air defense capabilities, especially in addressing high-altitude operational requirements, a direct response to the lessons learned from recent border standoffs.
Secretary of the Department of Defense R&D and Chairman of DRDO, Samir V Kamat, extended his congratulations to the teams involved, affirming that the Akash Prime missile has effectively met the country’s critical air defense needs for high-altitude operations.
Meanwhile, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) today delivered the inaugural set of wing assemblies for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The handover ceremony, held at L&T’s Precision Manufacturing & Systems Complex unit in Coimbatore, signifies a crucial step in scaling up the production of India’s indigenous fighter jet.
Secretary (Defense Production) Sanjeev Kumar virtually attended the event, witnessing General Manager (LCA Tejas Division) M Abdul Salam receive the critical components on behalf of HAL.
A Collaborative Push for ‘Aatmanirbharta’
Addressing the gathering, Sanjeev Kumar lauded the collaborative efforts of HAL and L&T, emphasizing their unwavering commitment to achieving self-reliance in defense manufacturing. He commended HAL for its proactive role in fostering partnerships with private sector entities, nurturing their capabilities, and ensuring enhanced production capacity for the LCA Tejas program. Kumar expressed strong confidence in meeting the ambitious production targets for the LCA Tejas and urged continued focus on reducing dependence on foreign suppliers, a strategic imperative reinforced by geopolitical uncertainties.
DK Sunil, CMD, HAL, present at the handover, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the delivery as a “testament to years of dedicated hand-holding and a shared commitment to excellence” between HAL and L&T. He further elaborated on HAL’s strategy of engaging both large and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in the aerospace and defense sectors. Sunil revealed that HAL has successfully established a parallel aircraft structural assembly line within the private sector, a move designed to significantly augment the production capacity of the LCA Tejas program.
Scaling Up Production and a Growing Ecosystem of Indigenous Suppliers
Senior Vice President & Head, L&T Precision Engineering & Systems, Arun Ramchandani, outlined L&T’s ambitious production plans. The company is initially set to supply four wing sets annually, with a clear roadmap to scale up production to 12 sets per annum through the implementation of advanced assembly processes and automation.
The delivery of wing assemblies from L&T marks another significant milestone in the expanding ecosystem of indigenous suppliers contributing to the LCA Mk1A program. The LCA Tejas Division has already received a range of critical structural modules from various Indian companies, including:
- Air Intake Assemblies from Lakshmi Machine Works
- Rear Fuselage Assembly from Alpha Tocol
- Loom Assemblies from Amphenol
- Fin & Rudder Assemblies from Tata Advanced Systems
- Centre Fuselage Assembly from VEM Technologies
This collaborative model is proving instrumental in accelerating the production and enhancing the self-sufficiency of India’s Light Combat Aircraft fleet, directly contributing to the nation’s strategic defense posture in a complex geopolitical landscape.
