The Union Cabinet on December 30, 2020 approved the export of the indigenous Akash missile system.
- Akash missile system is an important defence asset for the country with over 96 per cent indigenization.
- The Akash is a surface-to-air missile with a range of 25 kilometres.
- Developed by DRDO, it is India’s first indigenously designed missile system and can target fighter jets, cruise missiles, drones and other aerial assets.
- The missile was inducted in 2014 in IAF and in 2015 in Indian Army.
- The move will help India increase its revenue from defence export.
- The export of the Akash missile system will open the door for increasing the number of big platform defence exports.
- The export version of Akash will be different from System currently deployed with Indian Armed Forces.
