India DRDO Develops 45 km Range EOTS for Akash-NG

India’s defence research efforts have achieved a remarkable milestone with the development of a 45 km range Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) for ground-based air defence applications. This advanced system, showcased during trials of the Akash-NG missile, marks a major leap in India’s indigenous electro-optical technology. The EOTS has been used for real-time missile guidance and target tracking of high-speed aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, and aerial targets like the Banshee drone. What makes this system stand out is its long tracking range — something that only a few of the world’s most sophisticated air defence systems possess.

The EOTS is designed to function as a passive precision tracking unit that can operate independently or in conjunction with radar. It can automatically detect, lock, and track targets in both day and night conditions using its panoramic 2-axis stabilized gimbal, which allows high stability even under vehicle vibration or movement. Unlike radar systems that emit detectable radio signals, EOTS operates silently in the optical and infrared spectrum, making it ideal for radar-denied environments or situations where stealth is crucial. With its 3D data generation, automatic tracking, and compatibility with missile guidance systems, it effectively supplements traditional radar networks like IACCS by providing precise target confirmation and mid-course correction inputs.

A tracking range of up to 45 kilometres for fast-moving fighter aircraft or anti-radiation missiles (ARM) is a significant achievement. Typically, most electro-optical systems used in short and medium-range air defence can track aircraft-sized targets at only 10–25 km under ideal conditions. For example, South Korea’s K30 Biho self-propelled anti-aircraft system integrates radar and electro-optical sensors but has a much shorter optical tracking range. Similarly, Western systems such as Germany’s Hensoldt EO/IR modules or Russia’s Pantsir-S1 optical tracker generally operate within the 20–30 km band for effective optical tracking. Extending that range to 45 km represents a major leap in sensor sensitivity, image processing, and optical stabilization.

The performance gap largely arises from atmospheric limitations. Ground-based systems must deal with air turbulence, humidity, and temperature gradients, all of which reduce visibility and infrared signal strength over long distances. To overcome this, India’s EOTS likely employs high-resolution cooled IR detectors and large-aperture optics capable of distinguishing heat signatures even in degraded conditions. Its integration with the Akash-NG system indicates that the EOTS is not merely a surveillance tool but can play a direct role in fire control and missile guidance, a function traditionally dominated by radar. During June 2025 trials at Chandipur, the Akash-NG missile successfully hit a target using real-time EOTS guidance — a world-class demonstration of optical fire-control accuracy.

Globally, only a few advanced systems boast similar electro-optical guidance capabilities. The Israeli Iron Dome employs EO/IR sensors for visual confirmation but relies primarily on radar. The Russian Pantsir-SM uses multi-spectral EO trackers for high-speed target engagement, but open data suggests operational ranges below 35 km. Western systems like Raytheon’s Advanced EO/IR for NASAMS or Thales Catherine XP thermal imagers typically offer identification up to 20–30 km, depending on target size and environment. Against this background, India’s claim of 45 km optical tracking stands out as among the most ambitious and technically advanced achievements in this field.

The strategic significance of such technology is immense. In modern warfare, electronic countermeasures can jam or spoof radar systems, but they cannot easily affect optical or infrared sensors. A long-range EOTS provides a silent tracking and guidance channel, enabling missile systems to operate without revealing their position. This drastically increases survivability against enemy anti-radiation missiles. Moreover, EOTS-based guidance ensures higher engagement accuracy against fast, agile, and low-flying threats that may evade radar detection.

In conclusion, India’s new EOTS represents a technological leap that places it alongside only a handful of countries capable of fielding long-range optical tracking systems for ground-based air defence. If further trials confirm consistent tracking at 45 kilometres under varied conditions, the system could redefine how integrated air defence networks operate. By combining radar, electro-optical, and infrared data streams, the Indian Air Defence ecosystem — led by the Akash-NG — could achieve unmatched accuracy, resilience, and autonomy in the years ahead.