Opinion | Akash Missile Could Be India's Next Big Export. But There's A Problem |
Opinion | Akash Missile Could Be India's Next Big Export. But There's A Problem
Updated: Oct 22, 2026 16:08 pm IST Published On Oct 22, 2026 16:08 pm IST Last Updated On Oct 22, 2026 16:08 pm IST
Published On Oct 22, 2026 16:08 pm IST
Last Updated On Oct 22, 2026 16:08 pm IST
India's reported sale of its indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile system to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan could mark an important step in the country's ambition to become a major global arms exporter. Beyond the commercial value of the deals, the entry of Akash into Central Asia would open a new market for Indian defence technology in a region where countries are increasingly looking to diversify their military suppliers away from Russia and China.Earlier, Armenia and the Philippines already received missiles and munitions from India, showing the high potential and trend.
The significance of Akash goes well beyond the sale of a missile system. It represents a larger transformation in India's defence industrial policy - from a country that depended heavily on imported weapons to one seeking international markets for its indigenous military capabilities.
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For decades, India's defence manufacturing ecosystem was constrained by excessive controls, a policy mindset that did little to encourage exports. The result was a persistent contradiction: India remained among the world's largest arms importers.
That contradiction is now beginning to change, rather radically. But policy reform must not stop at encouraging exports. It must also make exporting commercially viable.
The numbers tell a good story. India's defence production rose from Rs 46,429 crore in 2014-15 to approximately Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26. Defence exports climbed from just Rs 686 crore in 2013-14 to a record Rs 38,424 crore in........