Akashteer, India’s fully indigenous, automated air defence control and reporting system, played a pivotal role in destroying Pakistan’s aerial attacks, by neutralizing and intercepting every inbound projectile during the 4-day military stand-off between India and Pakistan.
- During Operation Sindoor on May 9-10, 2025, Akashteer, including the advanced Akash NG, acted as an invisible shield, intercepting multiple missiles and drone swarms launched from Pakistan.
- While Pakistan relied on imported HQ-9 and HQ16 systems that failed to detect and intercept Indian strikes, India demonstrated its dominance in real-time, automated air defence warfare.
Background:
i.The Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India (GoI) had signed an agreement worth Rs 1,982 crore with Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Indian Defence Public Sector Unit (DPSU) Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in March 2023, for the procurement of Akashteer for IA.
ii.In April 2024, IA commenced the induction of “Akashteer Control & Reporting Systems,” aimed at enhancing its air defence capabilities.
iii.It is part of the wider Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) framework.
Key Features of Akashteer:
i.Various sensors that are integrated with the system: Tactical Control Radar REPORTER, 3D Tactical Control Radars, Low-level Lightweight Radar, and the radar of the Akash Weapon System.
ii.It is designed to automate detection, tracking, and engagement of enemy aircraft, drones, and missiles.
iii.It collects data from various sources, processes that data, and allows for automated, real-time engagement decisions.
iv.Its vehicle-mounted design offers high mobility, allowing easier deployment even in a hostile environment.
v.Unlike traditional air defence models that depend on ground-based radars and manual decisions, Akashteer enables independent monitoring of low-level airspace in battle zones and efficient control of Ground-based Air Defence Weapon Systems.
vi.It connects smoothly with the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and TRIGUN of the Indian Navy (IN), to create a clear and real-time scenario of the battlefield.
Key Points:
i.The Government of India (GoI) has set a Rs 3 lakh crore target in defence production by 2029, consolidating its position as a global defence manufacturing hub.
ii.The private sector contributes 21% to total defence production, promoting innovation and efficiency.
iii.Strong defence industrial base includes 16DPSUs, more than 430 licensed companies, and nearly 16,000 Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), bolstering India’s indigenous production capabilities.
iv.Currently, 65% of defence equipment is manufactured locally, marking a significant transition from the previous 65-70% import dependency, demonstrating India’s self-reliance in defence.
Recent Related News:
In March 2025, Delhi-based Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy (IN) successfully conducted the flight-test of indigenously developed Vertically-Launched Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, off the Odisha coast.
- It was launched from a land-based vertical launcher against a high-speed aerial target at a very close range and low altitude, showing its Near-Boundary-Low Altitude capability.
