Akash Air Defence System Exported to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan: India's Defence Exports Surpass ₹38,000 Crore in FY26

Why in News

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed in October 2026 that India's indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile system has been exported to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, in addition to the previously confirmed export to Armenia. India's total defence exports have surpassed ₹38,000 crore in FY 2025–26, and the government expects further Akash orders from additional countries.

Background

The Akash system was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), launched in 1983 under the late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The IGMDP produced five missile systems: Agni (long-range ballistic), Prithvi (short-range ballistic), Akash (surface-to-air), Nag (anti-tank), and Trishul (short-range SAM). Akash was the most complex of these, integrating a multi-target engagement capability with an indigenous radar system.

The system was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2014 and the Indian Army in 2015, replacing ageing Soviet-era SAM systems. A subsequent improved variant, Akash-NG (Next Generation), with greater range and manoeuvrability, is also in development.

Current Developments

Technical Specifications of Akash

Defence Exports Milestone

India's defence exports have grown from under ₹2,000 crore in FY 2014–15 to over ₹38,000 crore in FY 2025–26 — a nearly 19-fold increase in one decade. The government has set a target of ₹50,000 crore in annual defence exports by 2029.

India now exports to over 85 countries, with major items including: Akash SAM system, Dornier Do 228 aircraft, BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles (to the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam), ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) Dhruv, ammunition and components, naval vessels, and small arms.

Key Facts

• IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme) launched in 1983 under Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (then Scientific Adviser, MoD).
• BDL (Bharat Dynamics Limited) — a Defence PSU under the Ministry of Defence; manufactures Akash missiles, BrahMos components, Astra (air-to-air) missiles.
• BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) — Defence PSU; manufactures Rajendra radar (Akash's fire-control radar), electronic warfare systems, communication equipment.
• Armenia became the first foreign buyer of the Akash system (2022–23); Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are the second and third customers.
• India's Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020 sets a target of ₹1,75,000 crore in defence production (including ₹35,000 crore in exports) — the FY26 figure confirms India is on track.

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 246 + Seventh Schedule, Union List Entry 1: Defence, including preparation for defence and all such acts as may be conducive in times of war to its prosecution, is an exclusive Union subject.
• Article 53(2): The supreme command of the Defence Forces of the Union vests in the President of India.
• Article 246A / FRBM: Defence capital expenditure (including procurement and export facilitation) is reflected in the Union Budget under capital accounts.

Legal Framework

• Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020: Governs procurement of defence equipment; category "Make in India" preferences drive indigenisation.
• Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020: Comprehensive policy for boosting indigenous defence production and exports; sets 2025 targets (largely exceeded).
• Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992: Governs India's export licensing framework; defence items require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence.
• SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies) list: DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) controls exports of dual-use and defence items; Akash and its components fall under SCOMET Category 6 (Munitions).
• Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), 2014: India signed the ATT; exports must comply with end-user certificate requirements and not facilitate human rights violations.

Institutional Framework

• DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) — Under Ministry of Defence (R&D); develops Akash and other indigenous systems.
• BDL (Bharat Dynamics Limited) — Defence PSU under MoD; Akash missile manufacturer.
• BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) — Defence PSU under MoD; radar and electronics for Akash.
• DDP (Department of Defence Production), MoD — Oversees defence industrial base and export promotion.
• iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) — Startup incubation programme; opens defence innovation to private sector.
• Defexpo India — Biennial defence exhibition hosted by India (last edition: Gandhinagar 2024) to showcase indigenous capabilities to foreign buyers.

Economic Dimensions

Defence exports of ₹38,000 crore represent significant economic multiplier effects: manufacturing employment at BDL (Hyderabad) and BEL (Bengaluru, Ghaziabad, Pune, Chennai and other facilities), technology transfer revenue, and forex earnings. The private sector now contributes over 20% of India's defence exports — companies like Tata Advanced Systems, L&T Defence, and Mahindra Defence are key exporters of aircraft components, ammunition, and armoured vehicles.

Akash exports to Central Asia also open opportunities for maintenance contracts, spares supply, and training — creating long-term defence industrial relationships.

International Relations — Strategic Analysis

The export of Akash to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan carries significant strategic implications:

• India's Central Asia Connect: India's Connect Central Asia policy, reaffirmed at the India–Central Asia Summit (2022), seeks to enhance security, connectivity, and economic engagement with the five Central Asian republics. Defence sales institutionalise security partnerships.
• Russia's sphere: Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have historically been dependent on Russia for defence equipment (including S-300 SAMs). India's Akash displacing or supplementing Russian systems signals a shift in these countries' strategic hedging behaviour.
• Countering China: China's growing economic and military presence in Central Asia (BRI projects, SCO deployments) makes India-supplied air defence systems a hedging tool for these states.
• SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation): India is a full SCO member alongside Tajikistan, Turkmenistan (observer), and Central Asian states — defence sales deepen India's SCO engagement.
• Armenia: India's Akash sales to Armenia (the first export customer) set a precedent; Armenia's conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh demonstrated the value of India's defence systems in combat conditions.

Challenges

• Competing with established suppliers (Russia, China, France, USA) in the global SAM market requires pricing, service, and financing advantages.
• End-use monitoring: India must ensure Akash systems are not re-transferred to third parties or used against civilian populations — ATT compliance obligations.
• Geopolitical sensitivities: sales to countries in Russia's neighbourhood could affect India-Russia defence cooperation.
• After-sales service infrastructure in distant markets (Central Asia) requires logistics planning.
• Akash's relatively shorter range (25 km) compared to Western SAMs like NASAMS or SAMP/T limits its appeal for advanced air forces seeking long-range coverage.

Government Initiatives

• Defence Indigenisation Lists (DIL I & II, 2020, 2021): Positive indigenisation lists banning import of 300+ defence items, including sub-systems found in Akash, to boost domestic production.
• Defence Industrial Corridors: Two Defence Industrial Corridors (Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) created to attract defence manufacturing investment.
• iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence): Startup programme; supports private sector participation in missile sub-systems.
• Defence Diplomacy: Ministry of External Affairs' Defence Diplomacy Cell and DDP's Export Promotion Cell jointly facilitate government-to-government (G2G) defence deals.

Way Forward

The DPEPP 2020 and the Economic Survey 2024–25 highlight defence exports as a priority area for India's "strategic autonomy" and "economic security" agendas. India should: (a) develop an Akash-NG export variant with enhanced range (50+ km) to compete in the medium-to-long-range SAM segment; (b) establish defence attache offices in key buyer countries for after-sales support; (c) create a dedicated India Defence Export Credit Facility (analogous to the US FMS — Foreign Military Sales programme) to finance exports to developing nations; and (d) expand the SCOMET framework with faster clearance timelines to be competitive with Chinese and Russian suppliers' faster delivery cycles.

Possible Mains Questions

1. "India's defence exports crossing ₹38,000 crore in FY26 reflect a structural transformation of the defence industrial base. Examine the policy drivers and strategic implications of this export surge." (GS-III)
2. "India's Akash missile exports to Central Asian republics serve both economic and strategic objectives. Analyse in the context of India's Connect Central Asia policy." (GS-II)

Possible Prelims MCQs

1. Q: The Akash surface-to-air missile system is developed by DRDO and manufactured (missiles) by which Defence PSU? Ans: Bharat Dynamics Limited — BDL (B).
2. Q: Under which programme was the Akash missile system originally developed? Ans: Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme — IGMDP (A).
3. Q: Which three countries are export customers of India's Akash air defence system as of October 2026? Ans: Armenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan (C).
4. Q: India's Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020 set a target of how much in annual defence exports? Ans: ₹35,000 crore (D) — the FY26 actual of ₹38,000 crore has exceeded this.
5. Q: Defence items in India's export control framework are classified under which list administered by DGFT? Ans: SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies) (B).

Essay Dimensions

1. From importer to exporter: India's defence transformation in the 21st century
2. Weapons diplomacy: the strategic logic of India's defence exports
3. Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence — rhetoric vs reality
4. India and Central Asia: can defence ties build a durable strategic partnership?
5. The ethics of arms exports: balancing strategic interests with humanitarian obligations

Interview Questions

1. India is exporting the Akash missile to countries like Armenia and Tajikistan. Does this risk entangling India in regional conflicts?
2. What is the IGMDP and how has it transformed India's missile programme?
3. How does the SCOMET export control list work? Why is it important?
4. India's defence exports target ₹50,000 crore by 2029. Is this realistic given the challenges of competing with established suppliers?
5. Compare India's G2G (government-to-government) defence export model with the US FMS (Foreign Military Sales) programme.

FAQ

Q: What is the Akash missile system?

Akash is an indigenously developed medium-range surface-to-air missile system by DRDO. It can engage aerial targets — fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs — at ranges of 4.5 to 25 km and altitudes of 100 metres to 20 km. It uses a ramjet engine and is manufactured by BDL (missiles) and BEL (radar and electronics).

Q: Which countries has India exported Akash to?

As of October 2026, India has exported the Akash system to Armenia (first customer), Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed the Tajikistan and Turkmenistan exports and indicated that more orders are expected from additional countries.

Q: How large are India's defence exports?

India's defence exports surpassed ₹38,000 crore in FY 2025–26, compared to under ₹2,000 crore in FY 2014–15 — a nearly 19-fold increase in a decade. India now exports to over 85 countries. The government's target is ₹50,000 crore by 2029.

Further Reading

• Ministry of Defence: mod.gov.in
• DRDO: drdo.gov.in
• Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020 — mod.gov.in
• BDL: bdl-india.in | BEL: bel-india.in