India’s Advancements in Ballistic and Air Defence Systems

• 19 Jul 2025

Source: TH 

India has successfully test-fired its indigenously developed ballistic missiles Prithvi-II and Agni-I from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. 

• The development comes after the Indian Army carried out successful trials of the indigenously developed Air Defence System “Akash Prime” in Ladakh. 

Prithvi-II 

• It is a short-range, surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.  
• It has a range of 250–350 km, can carry conventional or nuclear warheads, and uses a liquid propulsion system with inertial navigation for accurate targeting. 

Agni-I 

• Developed by the DRDO, Agni-I is a nuclear-capable, short-to-medium range ballistic missile with a range of 700–900 km.  
• It can carry a 1,000 kg payload, is road and rail mobile, and fills the gap between the Prithvi series and longer-range Agni missiles in India’s credible minimum deterrence strategy. 

Akash Prime 

• It is an upgraded version of the Akash missile system, now featuring an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for better accuracy across terrain and weather.  
• First used in Operation Sindoor against Pakistani aerial threats, it’s a medium-range, surface-to-air system designed to defend mobile and static assets. 
  • The Akash system features high automation, cross-country mobility, and simultaneous multi-target engagement using real-time multi-sensor data. 
• It operates at altitudes up to 4,500 m and targets threats 25–30 km away. 

Ballistic Missiles 

• Ballistic missiles are rocket-propelled weapons that follow a free-fall trajectory after launch. They can carry conventional or nuclear warheads and be launched from land, sea, or air.  
• Based on range, they're classified as short (< 1,000 km), medium (1,000–3,000 km), intermediate (3,000–5,500 km), or long-range or intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)( > 5,500 km). Agni-V is India’s longest-range missile, an ICBM with a range of over 5,000 km.

Read more: Strategic Defence Technologies in India