The first Akash weapon system battery has been shipped to Armenia, making it the second missile system exported by India.
india.com reports that this marks a significant advancement for India’s defence exports.
The first Akash weapon system battery was not shipped to Israel contrary to reasonable expectations, even though India and Israel share a strong and growing bilateral relationship, particularly in the areas of defence, technology, and trade.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization, the Akash system is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) capable of targeting fighter jets, cruise and air-to-surface missiles, drones, and other aerial threats within a range of 25 km.
Produced by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), each Akash weapon system battery includes a Rajendra 3D passive electronically scanned array radar and four launchers, each equipped with three interlinked missiles.
Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary of Defence Production in the Ministry of Defence, “flagged off the first Akash Weapon System Battery to a Friendly Foreign Country.”
As per The New Indian Express report, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) stated on Monday, “This event reflects India’s growing capabilities in defence technology and manufacturing.”
According to The New Indian Express, the Union Cabinet approved the export of the Akash Missile System in December 2020.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh noted that the export version of the Akash missile would differ from the system used by the Indian armed forces, the report added.
He emphasized that the missile system comprised over 96 per cent indigenous components.
The Akash missile was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2014 and the Indian Army in 2015.
In 2022, Armenia signed a deal with India to purchase 15 Akash missile systems valued at approximately Rs 6,000 crore, becoming the first foreign country to acquire this missile system.
As per the Asianet News Hindi report, Akash missile systems can destroy aircraft within a range of 30-35 km and at altitudes up to 18,000 meters. It carries up to 60 kilogrammes of explosives and is capable of intercepting both cruise and ballistic missiles.
In 2022, India also secured a significant defence export deal with the Philippines for the supply of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, marking the country’s first major defence export order.
The Akash missile system is highly mobile, capable of being deployed on both wheeled and tracked vehicles.
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) stated that it contributed to this achievement by providing key Ground Support Equipment, including Surveillance Radars, Missile Guidance Radars, and C4I systems.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
