Who is Dr Prahlada Ramarao, the former DRDO scientist behind Aakash Missile Defence System which saved India from Pak missiles

Akash Missile Defence System: In a significant development amid the India-Pakistan conflict, India and Pakistan have announced ceasefire from 5 PM Saturday dated May 10, 2025. India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Pakistan have also confirmed the same. However, the history will not forget the role of India-made Akash Missile Defence System and S-400 Missile Defence System. It has been reported that Akash Missile Defence System played a huge role in saving India from the missile and drone sent from Pakistan

Moreover, do you know the personnel who is behind the India made Akash Missile Defence System. As per a report by NDTV, the Akash system was developed over 15 years by Dr Prahlada Ramarao, a former DRDO scientist. Dr Ramarao was the youngest Project Director for the Akash programme when he was handpicked by India’s ‘missile man’ and former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Other than the Akash Missile Defence System, Dr Ramarao has worked on almost all the types of missiles developed in India including surface-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles, the Akash missile, Astra, and the BrahMos, Indo-Russian joint venture missile.

“It is the happiest day of life… seeing my baby work so accurately and beautifully in shooting down incoming enemy aerial targets,” Dr Ramarao was quoted as saying as per a report by NDTV.

“It worked beyond expectations… engaging incoming targets effectively”, he added.

What is Akash Missile Defence System

The Akash system is a short range, surface-to-air missile system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited in Hyderabad. With its built-in electronic counter-counter measures, it can engage targets at altitude of up to 20km.

India deployed Barak-8 missiles, Akash missiles to thwart Pak attempts

India deployed Barak-8 missiles, S-400 Triumph air defence systems, Akash surface-to-air missiles and indigenously developed anti-drone equipment in thwarting Pakistan’s attempts to hit 15 Indian cities on Wednesday night, a report by news agency IANS said.

Pakistani military attempted to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj using missiles and drones.

Every single one of those missiles was intercepted or neutralised and none reached its intended target, the report said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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