After Armenia, India exported Akash missile systems to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan

India has exported its indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile system to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Thursday, citing the weapon platform as one of the country's success stories in indigenous missile development and defence exports.

Singh said production of the Akash system had stabilised, with the Indian armed forces continuing to place orders even as its overseas customer base expanded. The development marks a widening of India's defence export footprint, particularly into Central Asia, where military inventories have traditionally relied heavily on Russian and Soviet-origin equipment.

‘One of our success stories’

“Akash, I would say that it is one of our success stories. It shows the maturing of our indigenous missile design and production system. It is effective in dealing with high-velocity aerial targets,” Singh told ANI.

The Defence Secretary said Armenia was the first overseas customer for the missile system and had acquired multiple batteries. India subsequently exported the system to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

“The first customer was Armenia, which has taken multiple batteries. Thereafter, we’ve also exported it to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Production has stabilised. We have additional orders for our own services, and I’m sure there will be many more from various parts of the world,” Singh said.

Details of the quantities, configurations and values of the exports to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have not been publicly disclosed. The two Central Asian governments have also not publicly provided detailed information on the acquisitions.

Indigenous air defence

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Akash is a mobile surface-to-air missile system designed to protect vulnerable areas and strategic locations from aerial attacks.

According to DRDO, the weapon system can simultaneously engage multiple targets in group or autonomous modes and has built-in electronic counter-countermeasure capabilities. The entire system is configured on mobile platforms, allowing it to be deployed according to operational requirements.

The Akash system is already operational with both the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. Its development has involved a wider domestic industrial ecosystem, with Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited among the major companies associated with production and system integration.

The missile is designed to engage high-speed aerial threats, while the overall weapon system brings together missiles, launchers, radar, command-and-control elements and associated support infrastructure.

Armenia opened export market

Armenia became the first foreign customer for Akash, opening an overseas market for a system originally developed to meet India's air-defence requirements.

Deliveries to Armenia began in late 2024. Singh's confirmation that Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have subsequently received Akash systems significantly expands the geographical reach of the platform.

The Central Asian exports are particularly noteworthy because both countries have historically depended heavily on Russian and Soviet-origin military equipment. Their acquisition of an Indian-developed air-defence system points to a broader diversification of defence procurement in the region.

Reports of Akash exports to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan had surfaced earlier in 2026, including statements by former DRDO chairman Samir V Kamat. Singh's remarks on Thursday provided confirmation from the Defence Secretary that the system had been exported to the two countries.

Production stabilises

Singh said the Akash production programme had reached a stable stage, an important factor for a defence system that must simultaneously meet domestic requirements and export commitments.

India's armed forces continue to procure the system, while its manufacturers are also required to support overseas orders. Sustaining production lines is particularly important for complex missile systems because export contracts extend beyond the initial supply and can involve maintenance, spares, training and long-term technical support.

The government has been seeking to expand the overseas market for Indian-developed military equipment as part of a wider effort to build a domestic defence manufacturing base capable of meeting both Indian and international requirements.

Akash has emerged alongside platforms such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and Indian artillery systems as one of the more visible products in India's defence export portfolio.

Akash-NG moves ahead

The Akash programme is also being expanded through the development of the Akash-NG, or New Generation, missile system.

Akash-NG completed its User Evaluation Trials in December 2025, demonstrating its ability to intercept targets representing different operational scenarios. The next-generation system incorporates an indigenous radio-frequency seeker and a new missile, along with radar, command-and-control and launcher systems developed by DRDO laboratories in collaboration with Indian industry.

The newer system is intended to improve India's ability to counter evolving aerial threats while building on the technological base established through the original Akash programme.

Defence exports rise

The expansion of Akash exports comes as India seeks to substantially increase overseas sales of domestically manufactured defence equipment. Defence exports reached Rs 38,424 crore in 2025-26, according to government figures, continuing the rise in military exports recorded over recent years.

Singh had said in September that competitive pricing was among India's advantages in international defence markets and that the government expected defence exports to reach Rs 50,000 crore within the next two years.

For the Akash programme, the addition of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan to Armenia as overseas customers provides India with a wider export record for an indigenously designed air-defence system. Singh said he expected further orders as India seeks to translate its expanding domestic defence manufacturing capabilities into a larger presence in the international arms market.