New Delhi (NVI): India will start exporting its indigenous Akash Missile system as the Union Cabinet gave approval for the same today. A committee for faster approvals in this regard has also been created.
The missile was inducted in 2014 in the Indian Air Force and in 2015 in the Indian Army.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the development on Twitter. “Under the #AtmaNirbharBharat, India is growing in its capabilities of manufacturing wide variety of Defence platforms & missiles. The Cabinet chaired by PM @narendramodi ji today approved the export of Akash Missile System and a Committee for faster Approvals has been created,” Singh said in a series of tweets.
“Akash is country’s important missile with over 96 percent indigenisation. Akash is a Surface to Air Missile with a range of 25 Kms. The export version of Akash will be different from System currently deployed with Indian Armed Forces,” he said in another tweet.
Akash is country’s important missile with over 96 percent indigenisation. Akash is a Surface to Air Missile with a range of 25 Kms.
The export version of Akash will be different from System currently deployed with Indian Armed Forces.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 30, 2020
The Defence Minister said that so far, Indian defence exports included parts/components etc and the export of big platforms was minimal.
“The Government of India intends to focus on exporting high value defence platforms, to achieve target of 5 Billion USD of defence export and improve strategic relations with friendly foreign countries,” he said.
Developed by DRDO, the Akash Missile system is India’s first indigenously designed missile system that can target fighter jets, cruise missiles, drones and other aerial assets.
“After its induction in the Services, interest is shown in Akash missile by many friendly countries during International Exhibitions/Def Expo/Aero India. The Cabinet approval will facilitate Indian manufactures to participate in RFI/RFP issued by various countries,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
The MoD said that so far, Indian defence exports included parts/components etc. The export of big platforms was minimal. This initiative of the Cabinet would help the country to improve its defence products and make them globally competitive, it said.
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 said.
This Committee would authorise subsequent exports of major indigenous platforms to various countries. The Committee would also explore various available options including the Government-to-Government route.
Government of India intends to focus on exporting high value defence platforms, to achieve target of 5 Billion USD of defence export and improve strategic relations with friendly foreign countries, the MoD said.
-ARK
