India’s indigenous Akash air-defence missile system has expanded its international footprint, with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirming that the system has now been exported to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Armenia became the first foreign customer and has acquired multiple Akash batteries, while exports to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have subsequently expanded the system’s presence into Central Asia.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Akash is a mobile, short-range surface-to-air missile system designed to protect vulnerable areas and key installations from aerial threats. The system is already operational with both the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. DRDO says Akash can engage multiple targets in group or autonomous mode and incorporates Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) to improve resilience against electronic jamming. DRDO
The baseline Akash system has an operational range of approximately 4.5 to 25 km, while newer variants such as Akash-NG offer enhanced capabilities and a longer engagement range.
The latest exports are significant for India’s growing defence-technology industry because they show that an Indian-designed missile system is moving beyond domestic deployment into international markets. Defence Secretary Singh described Akash as one of India’s defence-export success stories and said its production has now stabilised, with additional orders continuing from the Indian Armed Forces alongside overseas demand.
The system’s arrival in Turkmenistan is particularly notable, as the country also operates several Chinese-origin air-defence systems. Akash therefore represents another major Indian defence platform gaining a foothold in a region where India is expanding its military-technology presence.
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