India, May 11 -- When drones and missiles from Pakistan threatened Indian airspace on May 8 and 9, it was the Akash surface-to-air missile system, built indigenously, that stood as the country's first line of defence.

Designed to detect and destroy aerial targets with accuracy, the system intercepted multiple threats successfully, earning praise for its performance. At the core of this defence breakthrough is Dr Prahlada Ramarao, a Kannadiga scientist whose work with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) shaped India's missile defence capabilities, Business Today reported.

Speaking after Akash's successful interceptions, Dr Ramarao called it the most fulfilling day of his life. "Seeing the missile I helped develop neu...