India offers Akash SAM to UAE: India has offered its indigenous Akash air defence missile system to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Increased Defence Cooperation: India and the UAE aim to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, including military exercises, training exchanges, defence-industrial collaboration, joint projects, R&D, and technology transfer.
Export Push: India is actively promoting the export of Akash, Pinaka, and BrahMos missile systems to friendly nations, particularly in the Gulf and ASEAN regions.
Akash SAM Features: Akash is a short-range surface-to-air missile with a range of 4.5 to 25 km, designed to protect vulnerable areas from air attacks, capable of engaging multiple targets and has ECCM features.
Indigenous Development: Akash is designed and developed by India’s DRDO and produced by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL).
First Foreign Buyer: Armenia is the first foreign country to purchase the Akash missile system.
Make in India & Emirates: Focus on complementarities between India’s “Make-in-India” and the UAE’s “Make-in-Emirates” initiatives.
Trilateral Cooperation: India and the UAE are collaborating with France in a trilateral framework for defence, technology, energy, and environment.
Joint Exercises: India, UAE, and France conducted “Desert Knight” air combat exercise and maritime partnership exercise to enhance military interoperability.
Existing Indian Exports: India has already exported BrahMos to the Philippines.