India, on 8 April, offered the indigenous Akash air defence missile system to the UAE, even as the two countries decided to step-up their bilateral defence cooperation in fields ranging from military exercises and training exchanges to defence-industrial collaboration, joint projects, R&D and technology transfer.

The offer for the Akash system, which can intercept hostile aircraft, helicopters, drones and subsonic cruise missiles at a range of 25-km, was made at the delegation-level meeting between defence minister Rajnath Singh and the visiting Dubai crown prince and UAE deputy PM Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

This is in keeping with India’s ongoing thrust to export the Akash system, Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems and the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to “friendly countries”, especially in the Gulf and Asean regions.

While India has already exported BrahMos coastal batteries to the Philippines, Armenia has become the first foreign customer for the Akash, Pinaka and 155mm artillery guns.

India and the UAE at the meeting acknowledged that bilateral defence cooperation needs to be scaled up to match the progress made in other areas such as trade and business, in line with “the vision and determination of the two leaders”, PM Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The two leaders “identified training exchanges as one of the key areas of defence cooperation which would enable understanding of each other’s defence ecosystems and accelerate strengthening of bilateral defence ties,” an official said.

The two sides decided that close collaboration between their defence industries should be an integral part of the bilateral cooperation and discussed opportunities for enhancing partnerships in defence manufacturing.

They welcomed the India-UAE Defence Partnership Forum, which has the potential to result in strategic joint ventures and co-production projects benefiting the two countries. “They also agreed to focus on complementarities in the Make-in-India and Make-in-Emirates initiatives,” the official said.

Significantly, apart from bilateral military exercises and initiatives, India and UAE have also teamed up with France to collaborate in a trilateral framework launched in 2022 in several areas including defence, technology, energy and environment, in tune with an ambitious roadmap chalked out by them.

In the military arena, the three countries, in December last year, had conducted a major air combat exercise “Desert Knight” over the Arabian Sea to strengthen trilateral defence cooperation and enhance military interoperability amid the ongoing geopolitical churn.

The navies of the three countries had also conducted their first-ever maritime partnership exercise to hone their combat skills against traditional as well as non-traditional threats through a wide spectrum of operations on the high seas in June 2023.

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Akash Prime, the new version of the Akash missile, is equipped with an indigenous active radio frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy. It is more reliable performance under low-temperature environments at higher altitudes.

The proposal is at an advanced stage before the government, sources told news agency ANI. The procurement of the two new regiments of the Akash Prime will help in further strengthening the air defence of the country and thwarting possible aerial attacks from both the Chinese and the Pakistani sides, they added.

The development comes amid multiple test firings of the existing version of the Akash missiles by the Indian Army’s Western and South Western commands. The results have been found outstanding even though the missiles used for the test firings had been deployed in an operational role during the recent conflicts, the sources said.

The Akash Prime system can be deployed at heights up to 4,500 metres and can take down targets at a distance of around 25-30 km.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation in September last year successfully test-fired Akash Prime from Odisha. The missile intercepted and destroyed an unmanned aerial target mimicking an enemy aircraft in its maiden flight test.

Akash is a surface-to-air missile with a range of 25 Kms. The missile was inducted in 2014 in the Indian Air Force and in 2015 in the Indian Army. It is country’s important missile with over 96 percent indigenisation, according to the government.

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The Akash Prime is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by the DRDO and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

The Akash SAM was developed to replace the Russian 2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful) missile system, currently in service. Like the Russian 2K12 Kub, it utilizes an integrated ramjet-rocket propulsion system, which, after initial rocket motor burnout, provides sustained thrust for the missile throughout its flight until interception.

In comparison to the existing Akash system, Akash Prime is equipped with an improved active radio-frequency (RF) seeker to further increase the accuracy. DRDO has also incorporated additions to make Akash Prime a more reliable performer under a low-temperature environment at higher altitudes.

The Indian Air Force has deployed Akash at its bases in Gwalior (Maharajpur AFS), Jalpaiguri (Hasimara AFS), Tezpur, Jorhat and Pune (Lohegaon AFS). Indian Army deployed Akash air defence system along Line of Actual Control in Ladakh as tension rose between India and China 2020 China–India skirmishes.

Earlier this year, DRDO tested the New Generation Akash Missile (Akash-NG). The missile was tested from a land-based platform with all weapon system elements.

Each battery of the Akash missile system consists of 4 launchers. Each launcher carries 3 missiles. Thus, there are always 12 missiles ready to be fired. Apart from these missiles each battery also carries loaders with extra missiles. The total number of missiles in each battery is 48. Each battery contains the main radar. This main radar is Rajendra Radar which is a 3D PESA radar. It provides command guidance to the missile. Each launcher is also equipped with its own fire control radar which works with the main radar and Battery Search Radar in a synchronized manner. All these systems are governed by Battery Command and Control Centre.

The Indian Air Force already operates 10 squadrons of Akash missile systems. Each squadron has two batteries and a total of 125 missiles each. The army has two operational regiments of the Akash system with 2000 missiles in total.

The first generation of Akash Prime missiles relied on the Rajendra Radars of their batteries for command guidance. That means that the missiles had no seeker of their own and were guided to the targets by the Rajendra radar throughout their trajectories. DRDO previously worked on Akash 1S variant with a radio frequency seeker for terminal guidance. Now, this Akash Prime variant is a further improved variant of the 1S variant. It is equipped with an improved indigenous RF seeker for terminal active radar homing. Previously the missile had a single-shot kill probability of 88%. Now with terminal guidance, it will increase even further making the missile deadlier.

The new system is optimized for low temperatures and higher altitudes. That means it is now more suitable to be deployed in Ladakh. All the components of the Akash systems can be mounted on BMP chassis if required. Thus, the system is highly mobile and can be deployed rapidly. In general, the components of the systems are mounted on BEML Tatra trucks.

Keeping China in mind this is a significant development as this system can be now deployed in harsh terrains like Ladakh. In 2020, there were reports that the Indian Army had deployed Akash SAMs in Ladakh during the standoff. But keeping the missiles battle-ready in such tough terrain is a difficult task. Moreover, Akash missiles are not packed in canisters which makes the maintenance even tougher.

Once inducted Akash Prime will be a crucial weapon for high altitude warfare. No additional infrastructure will be needed as it will be compatible with the current launchers and other components of its batteries. Akash Prime will play a crucial role in defending India’s airspace in future conflicts and standoffs in areas like Ladakh.

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Tata Motors announced, on 25 August,  the roll-out of its 1500th GS800 (General Service 800) Safari Storme SUVs specially made for the Indian Armed Forces. The milestone GS800 Safari Storme was rolled out of the company’s manufacturing plant in Pune, Maharashtra, and is part of the 3192 vehicles that the company is supplying to the Indian Army. So far, Tata Motors has already delivered over 1300 units of the 4×4 SUVs, and with the addition of the recent lot, we believe the company will soon complete 50 per cent of its delivery target.

Commenting on the successful roll-out of the 1500th Tata GS800 Safari Storme, Vernon Noronha, Vice President, Defence & Government Business, Tata Motors Limited said, “We, at Tata Motors, take immense pride to roll-out the 1500th GS800 Safari Storme of the 3192 order for the Indian Army. This modern SUV – Tata GS800 is specially customized to meet the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces. The continued faith bestowed by the country’s security forces in Tata Motors is a reflection of our pedigree & aspiration to serve the nations challenging requirements on the front lines.”

Cobham to Buy UK Rival Ultra in $3.6 bn Deal

Defence firm Cobham said, on 16 August, that it had agreed to buy Ultra Electronics in a deal valuing its UK-listed rival at 2.57 billion pounds ($3.56 billion), setting out commitments aimed at allaying any potential concerns over national security.

Cobham, which was taken private by U.S. private equity firm Advent last year, said it will safeguard and support the UK’s national security and create new manufacturing and engineering jobs and apprenticeships. It will also protect existing jobs, maintain a UK headquarters and boost investment.

In order to protect Ultra’s businesses and stakeholders, Cobham said it will engage with the British government to agree details of its binding commitments – including their duration and form.

The deal will help Cobham tap the maritime defence market, where Ultra sells sensors and torpedo and radar systems, mainly to Western customers. Ultra also makes a range of defence communication equipment and forensics software.

BrahMos Missile Production Centre to be Set Up in UP

The Uttar Pradesh government, on 24 August, said the “next generation state of the art” BrahMos missiles will be manufactured in the state with the BrahMos Aerospace company planning to set up a plant in the Defence Industrial Corridor.

BrahMos Aerospace had sought 200 acres of land for the project in the Defence Corridor for setting up its BrahMos missile plant. About 500 engineers and technical people will get direct employment in the BrahMos production centre, which will be built by investing Rs 300 crore on the land to be allotted at Lucknow node. About 5,000 people will get indirect employment and 10,000 people will get work through the production centre.

“Research and development work will also be done in these centres. More than 100 BrahMos missiles are planned to be built in the next three years. Due to the BrahMos production centre, many other well-known companies working in the defence sector in the UP Defence Corridor will come to the state,” a statement issued by the government said.

Army Wants Additional Akash Batteries and Dhruv Helos

The Indian Army has sent proposals worth around Rs 14,000 crore to acquire two regiments of the Akash-S air defence missile system and 25 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs).

The proposal is with the Defence Ministry and a decision on the approval is expected soon at a high-level meeting to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The Akash-S missiles are a new variant of the Akash missile system with a new indigenous seeker which helps in improving the accuracy in taking down enemy aircraft and cruise missiles at distances up to 25-30 kms, they said.

The missiles are capable of performing in extreme cold weather conditions in Ladakh and would meet all the requirements of the Indian Army in mountainous and other regions along the boundaries with China and Pakistan.

The DRDO has also recently tested the Akash-New Generation variant of the Akash missile systems which allows the troops to use it for longer range intersection of enemy targets and capability to operate at very high altitude locations along the Northern Borders.

The Army is also looking at acquiring 25 ALH Dhruv Mark 3 helicopters for its aviation squadrons.

Armed Forces’ Revenue Procurement Powers Expanded

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on 7 September, approved the expansion of financial powers to the armed forces for revenue procurement to cut delays in making purchases for operational preparedness and quickly meet requirements of the field formations.

The delegated financial powers of vice chiefs of the services have been increased by 10 percent subject to an overall ceiling of Rs 500 crore.

The primary focus of the enhanced delegation of financial powers is to empower field commanders and other officials to procure equipment and “war-like stores” in a speedy manner for urgent operational necessities and meeting essential sustenance requirements.

A new schedule on the hiring of aircraft and associated equipment has been introduced for the Indian Air Force which includes the hiring of air-to-air refuellers.

The financial powers of Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs Of Staff Committee (CISC) as CFA has been enhanced substantially and aligned with that of the vice chiefs of the services.

New CFAs have been added namely Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Master General Sustenance, ADG (Procurement)/DG Air Operations/DG Naval Operations, etc in service headquarters and in the field formations on account of reorganisation/ restructuring/ functional requirements.

New financial powers have been introduced for Navy and the Indian Air Force for their field commanders in line with the existing “Army schedule on ‘Army Commanders Special Financial Powers’”.

For the Indian Navy, powers for replenishment of disaster management equipment and materials have been delegated to the command level for immediate response to natural disasters and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.

Navy, BEL Ink Contract for Anti-drone System

The Indian Navy, on 31 August, signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for India’s first locally made naval anti-drone system (NADS) with both “hard kill” and “soft kill capabilities”, the ministry of defence said in a statement. The deal comes two months after small drones were used to target the Jammu air force station on June 27, the first-ever offensive use of drones to target an Indian military facility.

BEL will sign similar contracts with the army and the Indian Air Force, the statement said.

The anti-drone system will give the military both “soft kill” and “hard kill” options to tackle the new and fast-emerging aerial threat. The first refers to jamming the hostile drone, while the second involves a laser-based kill system. The indigenous anti-drone system has been developed by the DRDO and manufactured by BEL. The DRDO said its counter-drone technology could provide the armed forces with the capability to swiftly detect, intercept and destroy small drones that pose a security threat.

“The NADS can instantly detect and jam micro drones and use a laser-based kill mechanism to terminate targets. It will be an effective, all-encompassing counter to the increased drone threat to strategic naval installations,” the statement said.

The system was deployed for VVIP protection duties during Republic Day 2020, the visit of US President Donald Trump to Motera stadium in Ahmedabad, Independence Day 2020, Republic Day 2021 and Independence Day 2021. DRDO demonstrated its counter-drone technology to different security agencies at the Hindon air force station in January 2020 and at the National Security Guard (NSG) campus in Manesar in August 2020 and January 2021.

Mahindra Defence Systems Bags Contract for ASW Suite

Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, on 27 August, said its group firm, Mahindra Defence Systems Limited (MDS) had bagged a contract worth ₹1,349.95 crore for manufacturing of Integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare Defence Suite (IADS) for modern warships of Indian Navy.

“IADS is a high-end underwater equipment that uses latest technology. It is designed to detect and protect warships from underwater threats. It is a versatile system capable of operations from all sizes of warships – small, medium, and large. The complex array of sensors in water undertakes surveillance, and provides inputs for signal processing and analysis, to enable necessary action,” the statement said.

Mahindra Defence will be supplying 14 IADS systems for the Indian Navy warships, it added.

“The IADS comes with an integrated capability for detecting enemy submarines and torpedoes at extended ranges as well as diverting incoming torpedoes fired by enemy submarines,” the Ministry said.

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The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), on 8 September, cleared a nearly Rs 11,000 crore project of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to develop six new Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft for the Indian Air Force, using Airbus jets bought from Air India.

The IAF inducted its first indigenously developed AEW&C system, mounted on a Brazilian Embraer-145 jet, in February 2017, beefing up its capability to detect enemy aircraft and missiles. The Netra AEW&C system was developed by the DRDO and has a range of around 200 km.

The new AEW&C system, most likely to be mounted on the Airbus A321 aircraft, is expected to be more advanced than the Netra system, the official said. Currently, two Netra systems are in service.

The IAF also operates three Israeli Phalcon airborne warning and control system (AWACS) mounted on Russian IL-76 heavy-lift planes. The system has a range of 400 km. The IAF needs more such systems to cover the eastern and western sectors during offensive operations.

The approval for the new AEW&C jets came at a time when government has sharpened its focus on promoting self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector and positioning itself as an exporter of military hardware.

AEW&C systems are covered under the ban imposed by the government on the import of 209 defence items that will be implemented progressively from 2021 to 2025.

The AEW&C can detect and track all flying objects in the sky, including incoming fighters, cruise missiles and drones, faster than ground-based radars. They can also act as an aerial control room for missions while also keeping track of ships out at sea.

The criticality of the AEW&C was felt during the aerial duel between India and Pakistan on 27 February 2019.

Pakistan, which has six Saab 2000 early warning aircraft besides four others, had taken advantage of IAF’s changeover of the ‘eye in the sky’, when launching the attack.

Floating Missile Test Range INS Anvesh Ready

Sea trials of India’s first floating missile test range (FTR), INS Anvesh, were set to begin in September with the ship expected to be commissioned November. Built by Cochin Shipyard and designed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the nearly 9000 tonne ship will be used to test missiles up to range of 1500 kilometers deep inside the Indian Ocean without the threat to population or sea traffic as well as land mass limitation.

India is expected to commission at least four ships in 2021 with ballistic missile tracking ship INS Dhruv being handed over to National Research Technical Organization (NTRO) on September 10. Stealth guided missile destroyer INS Vishakapatnam and diesel attack submarine INS Vela, fourth of the Kalvari class, will also be commissioned by the end of the year.

Once commissioned, the FTR INS Anvesh will bring futuristic missile projects up to speed as it will provide for a ready-made safety corridor without going through the tedious exercise of issuing NOTAMs to ships and aircraft flying in the area. While the DRDO missile testing site at Wheeler Island off Odisha is under the scanner of the adversaries, the FTR will also allow discreet testing of missiles and torpedoes 400 to 500 nautical miles into the sea.

While only a select group of nations operate FTRs, the DRDO has specific plans to use the vessel, equipped with electro-optical missile tracking, S-band radar tracking, telemetry devices apart from a launch pad, control and mission control center, for testing its phase II of Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) interceptor missiles. The phase II of the BMD envisages intercepting and destroying enemy missile up to range of 2000 kilometers by kinetic force with the FTR allowing live testing of the interdictor missiles and not computer simulations.

The FTR will also allow for live missile and torpedo firing by the Navy as well as surface-to-surface tactical missiles with the Indian Army.

DRDO Hands Over MRSAM System to IAF

In a significant boost to India’s defence capabilities, the first deliverable Firing Unit (FU) of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) System was handed over to IAF in the presence of defence minister Rajnath Singh at Air Force Station, Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on 9 September 2021. During the event, DRDO and IAI officials demonstrated the capabilities of the MRSAM system, as part of the On-Site Acceptance Test (OSAT).

The MRSAM (IAF) is an advanced network-centric combat Air Defence System developed jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in collaboration with the Indian industry comprising of private and public sectors including MSMEs.

The MRSAM system provides point and area air defence for ground assets against a wide range of threats including fighter aircraft, UAVs, helicopters, guided and unguided munitions, sub-sonic & supersonic cruise missiles etc. It is capable of engaging multiple targets at ranges up to 70 km in severe saturation scenarios. The missile is powered by an indigenously developed rocket motor and control system for achieving high manoeuvrability during the terminal phase.

ARCI High Quality Ceramics for TI and Personal Protection

International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) – an Autonomous Research and Development Centre of Department of Science and Technology (DST), has succeeded in developing high-quality transparent ceramics developed for the first time in India which can be used in thermal imaging and personal protection equipment.

Indian researchers have developed transparent ceramics, reaching theoretical transparency through a technique called colloidal processing followed by simultaneous application of temperature and pressure, for the first time in India, the Ministry of Science & Technology stated.

The material can be used for thermal imaging applications, especially in harsh service conditions and personal protection systems such as, helmets, face shields, and goggles.

Researchers at the ARCI have produced magnesium aluminate spinel ceramics with colloidal processing followed by HIP technique which involves the simultaneous application of temperature and pressure.

Transparent ceramics is a new class of advanced materials with unique transparency and excellent mechanical properties. These materials can be designed not only for transparent to visible light but also for ultraviolet (UV), Infrared (IR), and Radiofrequency (RF), giving the opportunity for diverse applications.

Though produced by different countries globally, transparent ceramics are restricted in supply as they can be used for strategic applications. Though several attempts were made in the country, the transparent ceramics produced were either on a laboratory scale or low transparency. The currently developed process is able to produce the sizes usable for several applications and on a pilot scale.

With potential applications in infantry personal protection systems involving thermal imaging such as helmets, face shields, and goggles, these transparent ceramics developed in India is a step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.

DRDO Pitches LCA Tejas, Akash Missiles, Arjun Tank at Russian Expo

DRDO participated in week-long international arms exhibition Army 2021 Expo in Moscow from August 22.

The weapons showcased by DRDO included Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) ‘ASTRA’, Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)-NAG and HELINA, Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) ‘Akash’, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C), Identification of Friend and Foe (IFF) technology, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Joint Venture Protective Carbine (JVPC), Arjun Main Battle Tank MK1A, Rohini Radar, Air Defence Fire Control Radar (ADFCR)-Atulya Radar.

Rosoboronexport is offering India its whole range of small arms and light weapons, including assault rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, submachine guns, pistols, and grenade launchers.

The Indian Army has apparently shown keen interest in acquiring small arms such as the Kalashnikov AK-100 series, AK-200 series, AK-12, AK-15, and AK-19 assault rifles.

Along with these, KORD assault rifles, sniper rifles as well as machine guns — all manufactured by the Kalashnikov Concern and the Degtyarev Plant, part of the Rostec State Corporation, may also be picked by the Indian Army.

Rostec’s key holdings took part in the Forum: United Aircraft Corporation, Russian Helicopters, High-Precision Weapons, Uralvagonzavod, Techmash, Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Engineering, United Engine Corporation, Concern Radio Electronic Technologies (KRET), Technodinamika, Ruselectronics, Shvabe, and Avtomatika.

DRDO Develops Chaff Technology for Fighters

DRDO, on 19 August, said it had developed an advanced Chaff technology to safeguard the fighter aircraft of the Air Force against hostile radar threats.

“The IAF has started the process of induction of this technology after the completion of successful user trials,” a DRDO statement said. “The technology has been given to the industry for production in large quantities to meet the annual rolling requirement of the IAF,” it stated.

Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur, developed the advanced Chaff material and chaff cartridge-118/I in collaboration with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune, meeting the qualitative requirements of the IAF.

The DRDO said that in today’s electronic warfare, survivability of fighter aircraft was of prime concern because of advancement in modern radar threats. It explained that their survivability, Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS) was used that provides passive jamming against infrared and radar threats.

“Chaff is a critical defence technology used to protect fighter aircraft from hostile radar threats,” it noted, adding that the importance of this technology lay in the fact that very less quantity of chaff material deployed in the air acted as decoy to deflect enemy missiles for ensuring safety of the fighter aircraft.

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Akash-NG missile has been designed to strike low radar cross-section aerial targets. It weighs only half of the existing Akash missile and requires fewer ground systems, officials familiar with the project said.

The existing Akash missile has a range of 25 km, while the upgraded variant (NG) can strike targets at a distance of 30 km, officials said. “Akash-NG is a new generation surface-to-air missile meant for use by Indian Air Force with an aim of intercepting high maneuvering low radar cross-section aerial threats,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

 “The launch met all the test objectives by performing high maneuvers during the trajectory. The performance of the command and control systems, onboard avionics and aerodynamic configuration of the missile was successfully validated during the trial,” statement said.

The Akash-NG system has been developed with better deployability compared to other similar systems with canisterised launcher and much smaller ground system footprint, it added.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on December 30 gave its go-ahead to the sale of Akash surface-to-air missile systems to friendly foreign countries and created a high-powered panel for swifter approval to export of military hardware at a time India has set a target of clocking defence exports worth $5 billion by 2024.

The missile – already in service in the Indian military – has an indigenous content of 96%. The missile was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2014 and in the army a year later.

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The Union Cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Akash is country’s important missile with over 96 per cent indigenisation. Akash is a Surface-to-Air Missile with a range of 25 Kms. The missile was inducted in 2014 in Indian Air Force (IAF) and in 2015 in Indian Army.

Singh said a committee for faster approvals for the export of such platforms has been created.

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“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 tweet.

The decision by the Cabinet would help the country to improve its defence products, he said.

“So far, Indian defence exports included parts/components etc. 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,” Singh said.

“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 added.

ALSO READ: UAE, Saudi Arabia interested in BrahMos Missile

Besides Akash, there is interest coming in other major platforms like Coastal Surveillance System, Radars and Air platforms, said an official statement.

“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,” the statement added.

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