India Sends First Akash Missile System Battery to Armenia

Photo credit: AjayTvm / Shutterstock

India has sent the first Akash weapon system battery to Armenia, marking the country's second missile system export.

The Akash system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to target aircraft, cruise and air-to-surface missiles, drones, and other aerial assets within a range of up to 25 kilometres, The Caspian Post reports, citing Indian media.

Manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), each Akash battery includes a Rajendra 3D passive electronically scanned array radar and four launchers, each equipped with three missiles. These components are fully integrated, providing a comprehensive air defence solution.

The shipment was officially flagged off by Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary of Defence Production in the Ministry of Defence, who described the event as a key step in showcasing India's expanding defence technology and manufacturing capabilities.

“This achievement highlights India's growing capabilities in defence technology and manufacturing,” said Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in a statement on November 11.

Notably, in December 2020, the Union Cabinet approved the export of the Akash missile system, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasising that the exported version of the missile would differ from the system currently in use by the Indian Armed Forces. Singh also noted that over 96 per cent of the components of the missile are indigenous to India.

The Akash missile system was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2014 and into the Indian Army in 2015. In 2022, Armenia signed a deal with India to procure 15 Akash missile systems, worth approximately Rs 6,000 crore, making Armenia the first foreign nation to purchase the system.

The Akash missile system is highly mobile and can be deployed on both wheeled and tracked vehicles.

BEL stated that it "played a crucial role in this achievement by supplying essential Ground Support Equipment, including Surveillance Radars, Missile Guidance Radars, and C4I systems."

Nations such as Vietnam, Egypt, and the Philippines have expressed interest in the Akash weapon system.