Who is Prahlada Ramarao? The Man Behind India’s Own ‘Akash Missile System’ | TDG Explainer

The Akash missile system stood tall & high during Op Sindoor, when India was being attacked with drones and missiles by Pakistan. While the Indian Armed Forces responded with a resounding counteroffensive, the homegrown Akash defense system detected and intercepted hostile drones and missile attacks with precision targeting. It wasn’t merely a demonstration of India’s defense capabilities—it was a testament to the leadership and vision of one man over four decades: Prahlada Ramarao.

Prahlada Ramarao, one of India’s defense technology pioneers, commanded the Akash missile program for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Thousands of scientists worked together with him and established India’s missile defence independence.

Early Life and Rise of Prahlada Ramarao

Prahlada Ramarao is a name one does not commonly hear outside the defence circles in India, yet his work is monumental. Being born with scientific inclinations and a desire for national service, Ramarao’s professional career took him right into the nucleus of India’s missile development universe.

In the early 1990s, India’s ‘Missile Man’ Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam saw the potential in Prahlada Ramarao. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam appointed him as the youngest project director in DRDO’s history at a mere age of 35 to head the Akash project. India had then not many of the technologies necessary for missile defence systems. But Ramarao accepted the challenge.

Starting the Akash Project: Journey of Failures and Success

The Akash project was started in 1994. The government initially provided ₹300 crore for development. Right from the beginning, Prahlada Ramarao and his team encountered several challenges. They had to create everything from the ground up—without foreign assistance and with little infrastructure.

One of the largest hurdles was the development of Rajendra, the radar system that would lead the Akash missiles. Rajendra had to be an advanced, electronically scanned, phased array radar that would be capable of detecting, tracking, and engaging multiple targets simultaneously. It took years of persistent failure and changes to make it happen. Ramarao and his team, however, never lost hope.

Ultimately, with determination, they made it through. The cost of the project increased to ₹500 crore upon completion, but the end result was an entirely indigenous surface-to-air missile system that could secure India’s skies.

Akash Missile System: What Sets it Apart ?

The Akash missile system is a surface-to-air defence system of medium range that is intended to capture airborne threats. It has an up to 30-km range and has the capability to target multiple targets at a time. The missile is supersonic in speed and features a high-energy solid-fuel booster.

Its biggest advantage is its native design. In contrast to other nations that depend on foreign systems, India developed Akash from scratch at home—Indian components, radar systems, software, and launch platforms.

The Akash system is now operational in a number of Indian Air Force and Army formations. It serves a crucial function in safeguarding strategic sites, airbases, and border areas.

Akash in Operation Sindoor: Moment of National Pride

The real test of Akash Missile System occurred in Operation Sindoor, a recent military campaign where Pakistan made aerial attacks using drones and short-range missiles. India acted fast. The Akash missile system intercepted the incoming attacks successfully. It was the first time that the system was used in live military action.

Indian Air Force’s DGMO, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, remarked during a press conference, “Akash stood like a wall.” He was impressed with the accuracy and toughness of the system under pressure.

The success brought pride tears to the eyes of Ramarao. “My eyes swelled with pride when my baby performed so smoothly. The happiest day in my life. Larger than my Padma award,” he spoke to an interview. His pride was seconded by numerous all over India in watching the victory of Indian innovation and science.

Career Spent Designing Missiles Above Akash

While Akash Missile System shines, it is not Ramarao’s sole contribution. He contributed to developing at least a dozen other missile systems, including:

• Astra, India’s beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile
• BrahMos, the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world, developed in collaboration with Russia

Several other air defence and tactical missile platforms

Prahlada Ramarao also held senior roles in different DRDO laboratories. He guided the future generation of defence scientists and collaborated with the armed forces in order to make India’s missile programs meet actual requirements.

Vision Beyond Technology: Self-Reliance in Defence

What distinguishes Prahlada Ramarao is his belief in self-sufficiency. In an era where India was significantly reliant on defence imports, he was keen to create home-grown solutions. His efforts found resonance in the vision of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam to transform India into a tech superpower of the world in defence.

The recent success of Akash Missile System also resonates with India’s Make in India mission, proving that sophisticated military systems can be engineered by Indian scientists for Indian situations.

Building India’s Air Defence

As geopolitical tensions mount, India is persisting with layered missile defence. Ramarao’s work is the template for the next generation of programmes. India is currently developing extended-range versions of the Akash, the Akash-NG, and other systems to counter newer threats in the form of hypersonic missiles and swarm drones.

Specialized equipment such as Rajendra radar and Akash launchers are also being enhanced with AI and automation. These developments make India equipped to face changing threats.

Legacy Carved in Steel and Sky

Prahlada Ramarao’s journey  with the Akash missile system is one of vision, determination, and patriotism. From battling failed trials to neutralizing enemy attacks during Operation Sindoor, he made India do the unthinkable.

Today, while Akash guards Indian skies, it also guards something much deeper—the notion that India can innovate, lead, and triumph with its own scientific ethos.

Prahlada Ramarao’s legacy is not written in missile tubes and radar arrays alone, but in every young Indian scientist who has the courage to create something world-class for the country.