In a massive boost to India’s indigenous defence capabilities, the government on Wednesday approved the sale of Akash missile system to foreign nations, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.
Under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat, India is growing in its capabilities of manufacturing wide variety of defence platforms and missiles. Akash is the country’s important missile with over 96 percent indigenisation. Akash is a surface-to-air missile with a range of 25 km. The missile was inducted in 2014 in IAF and in 2015 in Indian Army.
The Defence Minister, in a series of tweets, said that the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the export of Akash Missile System and a Committee for faster approvals has been created. “Under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat, India is growing in its capabilities of manufacturing a wide variety of Defence platforms and missiles,” he tweeted.
Noting that till now Indian defence exports included parts or components for defence equipment, he said: “The export of big platforms was minimal. This decision by the Cabinet would help the country to improve its defence products and make them globally competitive.”
The Defence Ministry, in a statement, said: “After its induction in the Services, interest was shown in Akash missile by many friendly countries during International Exhibitions/Defence Expo/Aero India. The Cabinet approval will facilitate Indian manufactures to participate in RFI/RFP issued by various countries.”
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.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.The export version of Akash will be different from System currently deployed with Indian Armed Forces. 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 Defence Minister, External Affairs Minister and National Security Advisor has been created.
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 of defence export and improve strategic relations with friendly foreign countries.
