What is Akashteer? Know all about India’s Indigenous and Automated Air Defence System

On May 9 and 10, Pakistan launched deadly missiles and drones at India, but India's Akashteer emerged as a silent warrior, detecting, tracking, and neutralising a barrage of missiles and drones. 

Akashteer is an Indian Air Defence Control & Reporting System developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). It is intended to strengthen the capabilities of the Indian Army's Corps of Army Air Defence.

Akashteer is designed to detect, track, and neutralise incoming aerial threats – including enemy aircraft, drones, missiles, and loitering munitions – in real time, providing a seamless and highly responsive shield over Indian airspace.

What is Akashteer? Check Its, Features, Significance and Other Key Details

Source: The420.in

Akashteer is India’s fully indigenous, AI-based and automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the Indian Army.  Designed to detect, track, and neutralise any incoming aerial threats in real time, it provides an all-encompassing and responsive shield over Indian airspace.

Key Features and Capabilities

• Automation and AI Integration: Akashteer incorporates AI for the automation of detection, tracking, and engagement of hostile aerial targets. It processes data coming from the network of radars, sensors, and communication systems, giving the advantage of making fast decisions with minimum human error or delay.
• Multi-Sensor Fusion: The system combines different radar types, like 3D Tactical Control Radars and Low-Level Lightweight Radars, along with the Akash Weapon System radars. It also uses satellites from ISRO, like the Cartosat and RISAT, plus other sensors to give a clear, real-time view of the airspace.
• Real-Time Command and Control: Akashteer is part of India’s broader C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) network, ensuring coordinated operations across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Mobile and Flexible Deployment: This system is designed for vehicles, which makes it flexible and able to work well in different kinds of environments, whether it’s for border security or use in combat situations.
• Decentralised Response: Field commanders can make quick decisions on their own, so they can tackle threats right away without needing approval from higher-ups.
• Stealth and Resilience: Akashteer can work quietly by using low-key detection and secure messaging, which makes it hard for opponents to disrupt or escape from it.

Strategic Significance

• Indigenous Development: Akashteer is part of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which aims to boost self-reliance in technology and cut down on foreign defence imports.
• Multi-Layered Defence: It works alongside other missile defence systems like Akash SAM and S-400, creating a strong, layered defence against aerial threats.
• Proactive Defence: The system changes the game from just defending the air to being active and smart. It can see, decide, and respond quicker than regular systems. 

What Makes Akashteer Different From Other Air Defence Systems?

The unique capabilities of Akashteer set it apart from regular and contemporary air defence systems due to its smart automation, homegrown technology, and real-time operations.

Key Differentiators

• Full Automation and AI-Driven Operations: Rather than relying on outdated methods that require constant supervision and decision-making, Akashteer is fully automated and uses AI to identify, track, and handle threats by itself. This helps reduce human errors and speeds things up.
• Integrated, Real-Time Sensor Fusion: The Akashteer system combines data from a variety of radars and sensors (including Low-Level Lightweight Radars and the Akash Weapon System radars) into a unified, real-time picture of airspace for all operational units.
• Decentralised, Empowered Command: It allows frontline commanders to engage threats without waiting for central clearance, enabling them to respond in critical situations faster and more locally.
• Seamless C4ISR Integration: Akshteer serves as part of India's widespread C4isR (command, control, communication, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconciliation), which ensures coordinated operations in the Army, Navy and Air Force.
• Indigenous and Upgradeable Design: Akashteer is entirely made in India as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme. It represents tech independence and is designed to handle future upgrades and challenges with ease.
• Mobile and Versatile Deployment: The system is ground vehicle-orientated, thereby allowing flexible deployment across different terrains and operational scenarios, starting from border defence to the mobile battlefield.
• Strategic and Proactive Defence: The Indian Defence Ministry has been very fond of the proactive platform of Akashteer, which constantly observes the combat territory, makes decisions and launches a faster strike against traditional systems than it has been doing before the coming of Akashteer. 
• The Indian Defence Ministry describes it as a game-changer with its performance in recent conflicts, where it has intercepted and neutralised all forward missiles today.

Akashteer vs Traditional Air Defence Systems: What’s the Difference?

Operational Impact

Akashteer proved its resilience against massive drone and missile attacks from Pakistan in May 2025. It was able to spot, track, and deal with every incoming threat, which helped save both military and civilian sites in India from serious damage. Now, India stands out as one of the countries with advanced air defence systems that work automatically.

Akashteer and the Future of India’s Self-Reliant Defence

#Akashteer: The Unseen Force Behind India’s New War Capability

In the dark skies, a new kind of warrior awakened. It did not roar like a fighter jet or flash like a missile. It listened. It calculated. It struck. This invisible shield, Akashteer, is no longer a concept confined… pic.twitter.com/q78urGJlQ6

— PIB India (@PIB_India) May 16, 2025

In modern warfare, the Akashteer system is a prime example of India's innovation. By integrating with Air Force IACCS and Navy TrigUN, Akashteer is the system of choice for the Army's Air Defence, providing real-time battlefield awareness and coordinated responses across all three services. Additionally, it has extensive experience in combat intelligence systems.

The ability to move quickly and accurately makes it a valuable weapon in areas of active conflict, significantly decreasing the likelihood of friendly fire. Akashteer is not just a command-and-control system; it's also India'S growing self-reliance and increasing defence capability under the Make in India programme.

With the Tejas fighter and Arjun tank, ATAGS artillery, or indigenous naval assets, India is moving closer to hitting its target of defence production of 3 lakh crore by 2029. By manufacturing 65% of its defence equipment within India's borders and building a robust industrial base through DPSU, private players, and MSMEs, the country is setting an international benchmark.

Operation SINDOOR is a crucial initiative that has proven to be highly effective in combating hybrid threats, cross-border terrorism, and underlying armed conflict. This is not just a system but also demonstrates India's boldness in warning the world that self-reliance is crucial for defence.

(Source- Press Release released by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting)