As Pakistan began its most lethal assault on Indian military and civilian targets on the night of May 9-10, Akashteer, India’s cutting-edge air defence system, proved to be a silent warrier that intercepted, tracked and neutralized a salvo of missiles and drones.
“It did not roar like a fighter jet or flash like a missile, It listened, It calculated. It struck. This invisible shield, Akashteer, is no longer a concept confined to defence journals,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
Akashteer is India’s entirely indigenous and automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System, capable of intercepting and neutralizing incoming aerial threats with pinpoint accuracy.
Atmanirbhar Bharat’s Technological Backbone
Standing in the way of the incoming missiles and their targets was not only state-of-the-art technology, but a reflection of years of dedication under the Atmanirbhar Bharat program.
As Pakistan relied on foreign-bought HQ-9 and HQ-16 systems, which were unable to detect and intercept Indian attacks, Akashteer proved India’s self-reliance and technological superiority in real-time, autonomous air defence warfare.
Defence Ministry Hails Akashteer as a Game-Changer
The defence ministry has welcomed Akashteer as a game-changer in air defence warfare, asserting that the system “sees, decides, and strikes faster than anything the world has fielded.”
Designed for real-time threat response, Akashteer integrates multiple radar systems to create a seamless, automated shield. This integration not only enhances accuracy and coordination but also significantly reduces the risk of friendly fire, enabling swift engagement of hostile targets while safeguarding friendly aircraft in contested airspace, the ministry said.
Advanced Radar Systems Powering Akashteer
The system’s sensors constitute the Tactical Control Radar REPORTER, 3D Tactical Control Radars, Low-Level Lightweight Radar, and the Akash Weapon System radar all operating in conjunction to provide unparalleled situational awareness and response capacity.
The defence ministry stated that Akashteer is not force at the end of a spear; it’s intelligent warfare. The system gives everyone concerned, control room, radars, and Defence Gun, a common real-time air picture to support coordinated air defence operations.
Automation and Consolidation at the Core
It is built to automate the detection, tracking, and engagement of adversary aircraft, drones, and missiles. Akashteer consolidates disparate radar systems, sensors, and communications technologies into one operational system. It collects data from multiple sources, processes it, and enables automated, real-time engagement decisions.
Akashteer is a part of the larger C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) framework and operates in conjunction with other systems. The vehicle-mounted system is mobile and simpler to manage in hostile theatres.
Shift From Passive Defence to Active Retaliation
In contrast to conventional air defense concepts using ground-based radar and human decision-making, Akashteer provides autonomous observation of low-level airspace in combat areas and effective management of Ground-Based Air Defence Weapon Systems.
This is a distinct change in India’s strategic doctrine from passive defense to active retaliation. Its smooth integration into India’s overall C4ISR ecosystem enables the Army, Navy, and Air Force to fight with unparalleled synergy.
A Key Player in India’s Indigenous Defence Revolution
The defence ministry also emphasized that Akashteer is only one component of a rapidly growing ecosystem of indigenous defence platforms revolutionizing India’s war-fighting capabilities.
The Make in India program has spurred this growth, giving rise to sophisticated military systems such as the Dhanush Artillery Gun System, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun, Light Specialist Vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Weapon Locating Radar, 3D Tactical Control Radar, and Software Defined Radio (SDR), and naval assets like destroyers, indigenous aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates, corvettes, fast patrol vessels, fast attack craft, and offshore patrol vessels.
