Performance of the Indigenous Akash Missiles Systems, conceived by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd, was praised on Monday for defending the Indian skies against the incoming aerial threats from Pakistan during the four-day long hostilities between the two nations that began on May 7.

Dr Prahlada Ramarao, a former senior scientist of the DRDO, who was the project director of Akash missile systems, was all glee when his reaction was sought on the “stellar performance” of the projectile, as Director General Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti outlined in Monday’s tri-service press briefing to elucidate the dominance of military action against Pakistan. 

“I feel happy seeing the toil of my life delivering what it was supposed to when conceived way back in 1983 to arm the tri-services,” Dr Ramarao told businessline.

The satisfactory performance of Akash missile systems, which have since gone for upgrades in its speed to reach 2,500 km per hour and range of 80 km, will help the country in its exports, the former DRDO scientist said.

Export orders

India inked a deal with Armenia in 2022 to export 15 units of the Akash missile systems and more countries are believed to be showing interest in it since it’s much more efficient and less costly than similar weapons available globally.

Akash missile launcher at the Republic Day Parade 2023

Akash missile launcher at the Republic Day Parade 2023 | Photo Credit: KAMAL NARANG

He owed it to former ‘Missile Man of India’ Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who went on to become the President of India, for conceiving and developing this projectile among four different range of missile systems – medium-range surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, anti-tank missiles and later ballistic missiles to free India of import-dependence in this domain of critical armament.

“It can be pitched in the class of Patriot the United States had in its inventory then and probably the erstwhile USSR also had a similar air defence system,” Dr Ramarao told businessline.

A missile policy committee, drawing experts from different stakeholder forces and scientists, was constituted to present a paper on the different class of missile systems to suit the requirements of the army, navy and air force and was presented to then DRDO chief Dr VS Arunachalam.

The DRDO chief gave a presentation to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who gave a go ahead to the policy.

The scientist said he was only 34 years old when Kalam, who was brought in from ISRO to DRDO, tasked him to head the project though he was not very confident about supervising such a challenging innovation.

By 1998, the blueprint for the missile was completed for exhibiting to the defence forces. 

The armed forces initially had reservations over the capability of the medium-range missile system which went on for trials for two to three years, earlier news reports had stated.

Named by Kalam

The DRDO had allocated ₹700 crore for the missile project which was named Akash by Kalam himself, Ramarao, who retired from the DRDO in 2014, stated.

He is of the view that the DRDO managed to develop it in much tougher times since no industry ecosystem existed then. 

The database too was unavailable, he observed when asked why it took so much time to develop and manufacture the indigenous weapon system.

Due to the vibrant industry ecosystem, outlined by big firms and MSMEs, it should not take more than five years for the DRDO to evolve next-generation missile systems, he stressed.

Published on May 12, 2025