On December 23, 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), completed the User Evaluation Trials (UETs) of Akash-New Generation (Akash-NG), surface-to-air missile system, at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha.
Exam Hints:
- What? UETs of Akash-NG Missile System completed
- Who? DRDO (MoD)
- Where? Chandipur (Odisha)
- Manufacturer: BDL and BEL
- Features: Medium-range surface-to-air, supersonic (Mach 2.5‑3), AESA radar, ECCM, indigenous RF seeker, dual-pulse solid rocket motor
- Background: Akash‑NG is the successor to Akash Mark‑1 and Akash Prime series
About User Evaluation Trials(UET):
Overview: UETs are the final stage of testing conducted by the actual users such as Indian Army (IA) and Indian Air Force (IAF) to assess operational effectiveness, accuracy and reliability, ease of deployment and handling, and performance under realistic battlefield conditions.
Assessment: The Akash-NG system intercepted aerial targets at various ranges and altitudes, including near-boundary low altitude and long-range high-altitude scenarios.
- It demonstrated high precision against diverse threats such as high-speed and low-flying targets.
- The system met all Preliminary Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR), indicating it performed reliably and accurately under operational conditions.
About Akash-NG Missile System:
Overview: Akash-NG missile system is a next-generation, medium-range surface-to-air missile developed as an advanced variant of the existing Akash missile system.
- This seeker enables fire-and-forget operation in the terminal phase and enhances effectiveness against highly manoeuvrable and low Radar Cross-Section (RCR) targets, including modern fighter aircraft and drones.
Developer: The Akash‑NG, succeeding the Akash Mark‑1 and Akash Prime series, was developed by DRDO and is produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
Indigenous design: The missile system uses an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, dual-pulse solid rocket motor, and fully domestic radars and command-and-control systems.
Enhanced Capability: It is designed to counter a wide range of aerial threats, from high-speed aircraft and drones to cruise missiles, with improved precision and responsiveness.
Features: The missile system features a range of about 70-80 Kilometre (Km) and travels at supersonic speeds of Mach 2.5-3, marking an improvement over the earlier Akash variant, which had a range of around 25 km.
Radar & Counter: Akash-NG employs a modern digitally scanned Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar along with robust Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM), ensuring strong resistance against jamming and electronic warfare.
About Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO):
DRDO was formed by merging the Technical Development Establishments (TDEs) of the Indian Army(IA), the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP), and the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).
- DRDO operates seven technology clusters and is supported by a network of 53 specialised laboratories across India.
Chairman – Samir V. Kamat
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Establishment – 1958
