NEW DELHI: Long before the Akash missile defence system etched its name into India’s military history, Prahlada Ramarao had already built his legacy.
Personally chosen by India’s ‘Missile Man’ Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in the early 1990s, Ramarao was appointed as the youngest project director at just 35 to lead the Akash programme. At the time, Kalam was heading the Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) in Hyderabad — much before he became the scientific adviser to the defence minister and later the President of India.
“Kalam was a true leader. A leader brings team spirit and inspires all to work towards a common goal. The country now requires 10 Abdul Kalams to grow and develop in various fields like the way the aerospace and defence sectors grew under him,” Ramarao said. Reflecting further on Kalam’s leadership, he added, “The biggest difficulty for India is that we are individually good, but cannot work together as a team. Kalam was very good at addressing this. He taught me how to bring the energy of individuals synergistically to achieve a purpose. That is why I feel, if we have 10 Kalams, India will truly lead,” he told PTI.
Now 78 and a Padma Shri recipient, Ramarao was overwhelmed with pride when Akash proved its worth under fire, successfully intercepting waves of Pakistani drones and missiles during the night of May 8 and 9 along the western border. “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,” he told TOI.
The Akash Project
The Akash project, which spanned 15 years, involved over a thousand scientists and numerous DRDO labs across the country under Ramarao’s leadership.
The indigenous missile shield was launched 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,” he said, highlighting that the biggest hurdle was developing Rajendra — a complex multifunction electronically scanned phased array radar. The budget was later revised to Rs 500 crore. “I guarantee you, nowhere in the world a missile defence system could have been invented in just Rs 500 crore. Our Akash is the cheapest but most effective missile shield. It can detect a hostile missile from a distance of 70km and kill it at a 30km range,” Ramarao added.
Despite undergoing several trials and eventual user acceptance, the May 8-9 incident marked Akash’s first real-world combat test. Indian defence officials hailed the performance of Akash and other systems like S-400 Triumf . IAF DGMO Air Marshal AK Bharti stated, “India’s defence systems stood like a wall,” successfully neutralising the attack.
Akash’s capabilities have evolved significantly since its development in 2009, resulting in newer variants such as Akash-1S with an indigenous seeker, Akash Prime for high-altitude and extreme weather use, and Akash-NG with extended range and advanced features. The IAF currently operates 15 squadrons, while the Army has inducted four regiments and is looking to expand further.
The missile system’s efficiency even impressed Armenia, which became the first foreign buyer in 2022, signing a Rs 6,000 crore deal. The first batch was delivered last year to secure Armenia’s borders.
From being mentored by Kalam to seeing Akash perform flawlessly in actual combat, Ramarao’s journey is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and the power of indigenous development.
Personally chosen by India’s ‘Missile Man’ Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in the early 1990s, Ramarao was appointed as the youngest project director at just 35 to lead the Akash programme. At the time, Kalam was heading the Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) in Hyderabad — much before he became the scientific adviser to the defence minister and later the President of India.
“Kalam was a true leader. A leader brings team spirit and inspires all to work towards a common goal. The country now requires 10 Abdul Kalams to grow and develop in various fields like the way the aerospace and defence sectors grew under him,” Ramarao said. Reflecting further on Kalam’s leadership, he added, “The biggest difficulty for India is that we are individually good, but cannot work together as a team. Kalam was very good at addressing this. He taught me how to bring the energy of individuals synergistically to achieve a purpose. That is why I feel, if we have 10 Kalams, India will truly lead,” he told PTI.
Now 78 and a Padma Shri recipient, Ramarao was overwhelmed with pride when Akash proved its worth under fire, successfully intercepting waves of Pakistani drones and missiles during the night of May 8 and 9 along the western border. “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,” he told TOI.
The Akash Project
The Akash project, which spanned 15 years, involved over a thousand scientists and numerous DRDO labs across the country under Ramarao’s leadership.
The indigenous missile shield was launched 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,” he said, highlighting that the biggest hurdle was developing Rajendra — a complex multifunction electronically scanned phased array radar. The budget was later revised to Rs 500 crore. “I guarantee you, nowhere in the world a missile defence system could have been invented in just Rs 500 crore. Our Akash is the cheapest but most effective missile shield. It can detect a hostile missile from a distance of 70km and kill it at a 30km range,” Ramarao added.
Despite undergoing several trials and eventual user acceptance, the May 8-9 incident marked Akash’s first real-world combat test. Indian defence officials hailed the performance of Akash and other systems like S-400 Triumf . IAF DGMO Air Marshal AK Bharti stated, “India’s defence systems stood like a wall,” successfully neutralising the attack.
Akash’s capabilities have evolved significantly since its development in 2009, resulting in newer variants such as Akash-1S with an indigenous seeker, Akash Prime for high-altitude and extreme weather use, and Akash-NG with extended range and advanced features. The IAF currently operates 15 squadrons, while the Army has inducted four regiments and is looking to expand further.
The missile system’s efficiency even impressed Armenia, which became the first foreign buyer in 2022, signing a Rs 6,000 crore deal. The first batch was delivered last year to secure Armenia’s borders.
From being mentored by Kalam to seeing Akash perform flawlessly in actual combat, Ramarao’s journey is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and the power of indigenous development.
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