Latest news with #PrahladaRamarao
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Man behind India's Akash missile system on ‘Op Sindoor', what Army wanted & the challenges ahead
Join us for an exclusive interview with Dr. Prahlada Ramarao, the visionary scientist behind India's Akash missile defence system. Discover how Dr. Ramarao, mentored by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, led a team of over 1,000 scientists to create this groundbreaking technology. Hear about the challenges, breakthroughs, and the Akash system's crucial role in strengthening India's security. This is a rare insight into the dedication, innovation, and leadership that made Akash possible. Don't miss this inspiring conversation - like, share, and subscribe for more stories of Indian scientific excellence!
New Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Prahlada Ramarao: Proud father of Akash air defence
It was a deeply emotional moment for 78-year-old former aerospace engineer, missile designer and ex-Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist, Prahlada Ramarao. He was watching the highly impressive combat performance of the baby he had nurtured, which was protecting assets of India from incoming Pakistani drones and missiles between May 7 and 10, as 'Operation Sindoor' rolled on. It was the indigenous missile air defence, Akash, a result of his sustained efforts for several years of his career spanning 44 years from 1971 till 2015. Tears welled up. He was speechless. It was a moment of pride and joy… and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. The Akash medium range surface-to-air missile system, with a range of about 30 km and an operational altitude ceiling of 18 km, can simultaneously engage multiple incoming targets, and is operational with the Indian Air Force and the Army. It provides air defence against multiple, simultaneous air threats to vulnerable forces or areas. The system has cutting-edge features, including real-time multi-sensor data processing and threat evaluation, which enables simultaneous engagement of multiple targets from any direction. The entire system is flexible, configured on mobile platforms, upscalable and can be operated in group and autonomous modes, employing command guidance and relying on phased array guidance radar to guide the missile till it intercepts incoming targets.
News18
15-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘I Couldn't Speak': When Prahlada Ramarao Saw His ‘Baby' Akash Rule The Skies And Pakistan
Last Updated: He built it over decades. During Operation Sindoor, it delivered. Former DRDO scientist Prahlada Ramarao tells CNN-News18 what it meant to see his 'baby' Akash defend India In the wake of Operation Sindoor — India's calibrated military response to one of the deadliest terror attacks in Kashmir — Akash, the country's homegrown surface-to-air missile system, has taken centre stage in national security. In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18's Rahul Shivshankar, Dr Prahlada Ramarao — Padma Shri awardee, former DRDO scientist, and the man who led the development of India's Akash missile system — opened up about the emotional and strategic significance of seeing his missile defend the nation in real-time conflict. When asked how it felt to see Akash deployed in an actual conflict zone, Dr Ramarao became visibly emotional. He recalled the moment he first heard that Akash had successfully intercepted enemy threats. 'I couldn't even speak," he admitted. 'My wife told me it had worked, and the first person I remembered was Dr Kalam." Personally chosen by India's 'Missile Man' Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in the early 1990s, Ramarao was appointed the youngest project director at just 35 to lead the Akash programme — a responsibility that would come to define his life's work. #AkashMissile | The science behind is the propulsion of the missile. We had to develop the ramjet propulsion system for the missile: Dr Prahlada Ramarao – Former DRDO Scientist (Creator of Akash Missile) #IndiaPakistan #AkashMissileDefenceSystem #TheHardFacts | @RShivshankar — News18 (@CNNnews18) May 14, 2025 Having spent over 15 years building the missile system from the ground up, he said Akash was like his own child — 'my baby" — and watching it succeed in battle was a moment of overwhelming pride. Akash's performance in Operation Sindoor — India's calibrated and strategic military response to the Pahalgam terror attack — marked a significant milestone not just for DRDO, but for India's evolving defence doctrine. Relying on stand-off precision weaponry, Indian forces were able to neutralise terrorist infrastructure without physically crossing the Line of Control or international boundary. Akash was central to this effort. Developed as a short-range surface-to-air missile (SRSAM), the system is designed to protect vulnerable areas and assets from aerial attacks. Configured entirely on mobile platforms, Akash can engage multiple targets in both autonomous and group modes, and features electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) to neutralise jamming attempts. During Operation Sindoor, it operated alongside other platforms like Pechora, OSA-AK, and LLAD guns — together creating a layered defensive grid that proved essential in countering asymmetric threats including drone swarms and low-flying missiles. Reflecting on the journey from blueprint to battlefield, Dr Ramarao explained that while most missile systems are developed by scaling existing technology into deployable products, the Akash system demanded a more fundamental, scientific approach. There were two major breakthroughs involved. First, India had to develop a phased array radar — something that did not exist in the country at the time. The result was the Rajendra radar system, designed using complex microwave and RF engineering, digital electronics, and microelectronics. The second challenge was even greater: building a ramjet propulsion system that would allow Akash to maintain supersonic speeds till impact. At the time, only one other country in the world had such a capability. The propulsion system required deep expertise in propellant chemistry and high-speed aerodynamics, which India had to develop from scratch. On whether the Indian military was always confident about the missile's capabilities, Dr Ramarao clarified that while there wasn't resistance, there was some initial apprehension from both the Army and the Air Force. Their concerns, he said, centred around whether Akash could truly deliver the kind of target tracking accuracy and kill probability that modern warfare demands. 'They asked whether we could maintain a 99 per cent success rate at 25 kilometres," he said. 'We demonstrated that we could." He also recalled the pressure of leading the Akash project at just 35. He said the early years were filled with anxiety, but he was fortunate to lead a group of scientists spread across five DRDO laboratories who shared his passion and sense of mission. Together, they refined everything — from warhead lethality and radar signal integrity to fragment dispersion and impact pressure. 'We found the perfect recipe," he said. 'The credit belongs to the entire team." One of the most remarkable aspects of the Akash project was its budget. India managed to develop the missile system with one-tenth the funding typically required for similar projects in Western countries. Dr Ramarao said this was possible because of India's inherently frugal innovation model. 'Manpower, services — all are lower cost here. But our brainpower is no less," he said. 'We had limited resources. But we delivered." Despite the odds, Akash was not only completed but successfully inducted into India's defence architecture — and now stands as one of the key deterrents against airborne threats. Reflecting on the journey, Dr Ramarao said that for him, Akash is more than a missile. 'It is our collective resolve cast in steel," he said. 'Every time it flies, it represents the dreams and determination of a billion Indians." In a security environment increasingly shaped by technology, precision, and self-reliance, the story of Akash — and the visionary who built it — stands as a powerful reminder of what India can achieve when science, leadership, and national will converge. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : akash DRDO Operation Sindoor Surface to Air Missile Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 15, 2025, 14:27 IST News india 'I Couldn't Speak': When Prahlada Ramarao Saw His 'Baby' Akash Rule The Skies And Pakistan
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
'It means more than my...': How the scientist who led Akash project reacted as his "missile child" protected the nation
As the four-day conflict between India and Pakistan came to an end, one Indian-made weapon stood out, Akash , the country's very own missile defence system. It proved its strength in real combat, successfully stopping enemy drones and missiles when it mattered most. For Prahlada Ramarao, the man who once led the Akash missile project under the guidance of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, 'it felt like watching my child take its first steps, except this child stopped enemy missiles.' Continue to video 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bank Owned Properties For Sale In Juwana (Prices May Surprise You) Foreclosed Homes | Search ads Search Now Undo 'This is the happiest day of my life. It means more to me than my Padma Shri award,' he told TOI. The Making of Akash The Akash project began in 1994 with a budget of Rs 300 crore. It took 15 years, over 1,000 scientists, and teamwork across defence labs in India to turn the dream into reality. Live Events On the night of 8–9 May, Akash successfully intercepted multiple enemy targets near the western border, showing the world that it was ready for real combat. Ramarao was chosen by Dr Kalam at the age of 35 to lead the Akash programme. His journey with the missile was long and full of challenges. 'We failed many times. But every failure taught us something new,' he said. A major breakthrough was the development of the Rajendra radar, which allows Akash to track and shoot down targets from any direction, in real time. Today, Akash is a key part of India's Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) dream. Ramarao proudly said, 'No other country has built such a powerful missile defence system at such a low cost, just Rs 500 crore.' Akash can spot a missile from 70 km away and destroy it at 30 km. India's top military officials praised Akash after its battlefield success. Air Marshal AK Bharti said that India's defence systems, including Akash and the Russian-made S-400 Triumf, acted like a strong wall and protected the country from enemy attacks. Versions of Akash Since its first induction in 2009, Akash has grown into a family of advanced systems, including: Akash-1S – with a modern Indian-made seeker Akash Prime – made for high-altitude, low-temperature areas Akash-NG (Next Generation) – with longer range and better performance The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently has 15 Akash squadrons, while the Indian Army has four regiments, and more are being added. Global Recognition India's success in missile technology has also attracted attention from other countries. In 2022, Armenia became the first foreign buyer of Akash, signing a Rs 6,000 crore deal for 15 systems. The first delivery happened last year, helping India gain respect as a rising defence exporter. Inputs from TOI
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First Post
13-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Man behind Akash explains DRDO invention and how it destroyed Pak drones, missiles
Prahlada Ramarao, the then project director of Akash, under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO, said that the fully-indigenous missile system's credit goes to thousands of scientists who worked tirelessly for 15 years to develop it read more The medium-range Akash air defence system is in service with the Indian Army and Air Force. (Photo: BEL) The Akash missile defence system was the star of the show in the success of Operation Sindoor. The missile shield system was among the many other made-in-India weapons that were used in the military operation and found a mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation on Monday. Akash is the brainchild of Prahlada Ramarao, who celebrated a proud moment after the missile system thwarted Pakistan's air incursions last week, as it launched its offensive following Operation Sindoor of the Indian armed forces. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ramarao, the then project director of Akash, under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO, said that the fully-indigenous missile system's credit goes to thousands of scientists who worked tirelessly for 15 years to develop it. 'We started work on this project in 1994 with an initial budget of Rs 300 crore. When you invent something, you fail several times. We also failed. But we learnt from our mistakes. Developing Rajendra, a complex multi-function electronically scanned phased array radar, was the biggest challenge. But we overcame that challenge after several hits and trials. Later, the project budget was raised to Rs 500 crore,' he said. How was Akash used in Op Sindoor? The Akash defence system was put to the test for the first time in an active military combat during last week's Operation Sindoor. It was successfully used to counter Pakistani drones and missile attacks. IAF DGMO Air Marshal AK Bharti spoke of the triumphs of Akash during a press briefing on Monday, asserting that the defence system 'stood like a wall' during the operation. 'My eyes welled up when my baby worked so well. It is the happiest day of my life. This is bigger than my Padma award,' Ramarao told TOI. Who is Ramarao? In the early 1990s, Ramarao was chosen by India's 'Missile Man', Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, to lead the Akash programme as its youngest project director at the age of 35. At the time, Kalam was heading the Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) in Hyderabad under the DRDO, before going on to serve as the scientific adviser to the defence minister and later becoming the President of India. However, Akash is just one of his successes. Ramarao has also contributed significantly to the development of 10 different surface-to-air and air-to-air defence systems. He also played a role in the creation of Astra and BrahMos. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
