According to an article published on November 12, 2024, by the Indian newspaper The New Indian Express, India reportedly shipped a second battery of its Akash air defense system to Armenia. This delivery is part of a 2022 agreement, under which Armenia ordered 15 Akash systems valued at approximately $720 million.
AKASH is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile System to protect vulnerable areas and points from air attacks. Akash Weapon System (AWS) can simultaneously engage Multiple Targets in Group Mode or Autonomous Mode. It has built-in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) features. The entire weapon system has been configured on mobile platforms.
The Akash system, developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), is a cornerstone of India’s self-reliant defense capabilities. Deployed by the Indian Air Force in 2014 and the Indian Army in 2015, Akash is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system capable of intercepting aerial threats like fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, and air-to-surface missiles within a 25-kilometer range. In 2020, India approved Akash’s export, and this delivery to Armenia underscores India’s ambitions to expand its defense export market.