India’s game-changing 'Akashteer' system: Technology that neutralised Pak's air assault, enabled precision counterstrikes
PTC Web Desk: In the early hours between May 9 and 10, when Pakistan launched coordinated drone and missile attacks targeting Indian military installations and civilian areas, they were met with an unprecedented defence shield—India’s indigenous 'Akashteer' system. What followed was not only a complete neutralisation of incoming threats, but also a surgical, precise Indian retaliation targeting 13 Pakistani sites, including eight strategic airbases.
This dramatic turn of events has left military analysts worldwide stunned. While India exhibited unmatched defence preparedness, Pakistan’s air defence network crumbled under pressure. The Indian government later revealed that the game-changer in this operation was the Akashteer Air Defence Command and Control System—a product of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, designed entirely within India.
What is the Akashteer System? Explained in 10 Key Points
Akashteer is an indigenous, mobile, and fully autonomous air defence system, developed to provide seamless real-time tracking and response against aerial threats like drones, missiles, and loitering munitions.
The system integrates radar feeds, terrain data, weather conditions, and sensor inputs to make instantaneous decisions—far beyond the capabilities of human-operated command chains.
During the Pakistani assault, Akashteer successfully intercepted and neutralised all incoming threats before they could penetrate Indian airspace—something global experts are calling a “first of its kind.”
Unlike traditional systems, Akashteer is designed to automatically detect, track, classify, and engage enemy targets with minimal human intervention, reducing reaction time and increasing precision.
It is a key component of India’s larger C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) ecosystem, enabling joint and integrated battlefield awareness.
Compared to Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied HQ-9 and HQ-16 systems, which failed to stop Indian strikes, Akashteer represents a paradigm shift in air defence strategy—favouring intelligence and automation over brute force.
The system delivers a common operational picture across radars, control rooms, and defence units, facilitating coordinated and efficient response protocols in high-pressure scenarios.
Its vehicle-mounted design ensures high mobility, allowing deployment in various terrains and contested environments, making it versatile for both offensive and defensive posturing.
Akashteer also minimises the risk of friendly fire incidents, thanks to integrated threat recognition and friend-or-foe identification mechanisms—a critical feature in joint-force missions.
Perhaps most notably, Akashteer marks a strategic shift in India’s doctrine—from a traditionally reactive approach to one that is now proactive and retaliatory, especially against cross-border terror threats.
A Strategic Shift in Warfare
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a bold statement following the attacks: 'India will no longer be blackmailed by nuclear threats and will respond with force if necessary'. The success of Akashteer has emboldened India's military posture, pointing towards a clear readiness to strike decisively and defensively within hostile airspaces.
With this technological milestone, India has entered the elite league of nations capable of fully automated, integrated air defence and response systems—a domain previously dominated by global powers like the US, Israel, and Russia.
Global Reaction
International defence analysts are hailing Akashteer as a “seismic leap” in modern warfare. Its capacity to “see, decide, and strike” faster than any known deployed system is redefining how nations may defend themselves against asymmetric threats in the future.
- With inputs from agencies
