Akash Air Missile: Nine Nations Interested In Acquiring DRDO-Developed Weapon

Nine foreign nations from Southeast Asia and Africa are interested in procuring the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO)-developed Akash air missile system, ANI reports.

Akash is a surface-to-air missile and has a range of 25 kilometres. It was inducted in the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2014 and was introduced in the Indian Army in 2015.

“Besides Akash, there is interest coming in other major platforms like Coastal Surveillance System, Radars and Air platforms. To provide faster approvals for export of such platforms, a Committee comprising of Raksha Mantri, External Affairs Minister and National Security Advisor has been created,” the Ministry of Defence revealed through an official statement.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led cabinet had earlier approved the export of the supply of the Akash air missile system. Furthermore, a committee comprising of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has been formed to authorise the sale of major indigenous platforms to multiple countries.

These measures are said to be part of the central government's to meet the target of $5 billion worth of defence export.