SOURCE: AFI
On the morning of May 10, 2025, a dramatic video captured by residents near the Line of Control (LoC) in India showcased the Indian Air Force’s Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system successfully intercepting a Pakistani Fatah-1 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS). The footage, which has since gone viral across social media platforms, highlights India’s robust air defense capabilities amid escalating tensions with Pakistan. This incident, part of a broader military exchange following India’s Operation Sindoor, underscores the effectiveness of the indigenously developed Akash SAM in countering advanced regional threats.
The video, reportedly filmed by local residents in the Sirsa region of Haryana, captures the moment an Akash missile streaks into the sky and intercepts a Pakistani Fatah-1 missile mid-air. The footage shows a bright explosion as the incoming projectile is neutralized, preventing it from reaching its intended target, speculated to be a strategic location near New Delhi. The interception occurred around 12:15 AM on May 10, 2025, as part of Pakistan’s retaliatory Operation Bunyan ul Marsoos, launched in response to Indian airstrikes on Pakistani airbases the previous day.
The Fatah-1, developed by Pakistan’s National Development Complex, is a guided artillery rocket with a range of approximately 140 kilometers and a 150 kg high-explosive warhead. Designed for precision strikes against tactical targets like military bases and radar sites, its low-altitude flight profile and guided navigation system make it a challenging target for air defenses. Despite these capabilities, the Akash SAM, guided by the Rajendra radar, detected and tracked the incoming missile, neutralizing it at an altitude of about 5 km within its 30 km engagement envelope.
The viral video has sparked intense reactions online, with Indian users on X lauding the Akash system’s precision and reliability. One post shared images of the Fatah-1 wreckage, emphasizing the system’s ability to counter Pakistan’s heavy guided munitions. However, the incident has also heightened concerns about the growing use of ballistic missiles in urban warfare scenarios, as Pakistan’s attempt to target Indian cities like Delhi underscores the escalating stakes of the conflict.
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