India to export indigenous Akash missile system

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the export of the Akash Missile system. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made the announcement.

The minister said the export version of Akash Missile System will be different from the system that has been deployed with Indian armed forces. The Cabinet also approved the setting up of a committee for faster approvals.

Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it is India’s first indigenously designed missile system and can target fighter jets, cruise missiles, drones and other aerial assets.

The Defence Minister said that the Akash Missile system is an important defence asset for the country with over 96 percent indigenisation. He also noted that the Akash is a surface-to-air missile with a range of 25 kilometers. Earlier these missiles were testfired by India a few weeks ago.

The Defence Minister further added that the government intends on exporting high-value defence platforms to achieve a target of $5 billion of defence export and also improve strategic relations with friendly nations.

The minister added that the export of the Akash missile system will open door for increasing the number of big platform defence exports.