SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant push to bolster bilateral defence ties, India has extended an offer to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its indigenously developed Akash air defence missile system. The proposal, announced during a high-level meeting in New Delhi on April 8, 2025, between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also serves as the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister, marks a new chapter in Indo-UAE cooperation.
This move aligns with India’s broader strategy to export home-grown defence technologies like the Akash system, Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems, and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to friendly nations, particularly in the Gulf and ASEAN regions.
India’s offer to the UAE comes on the heels of similar proposals to nations like Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, reflecting a deliberate strategy to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific while boosting domestic defence manufacturing. The Akash’s export potential was greenlit by the Cabinet in 2020, with a high-level panel comprising Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval overseeing approvals to ensure strategic alignment.
The UAE, a major importer of defence equipment, has traditionally relied on systems like the U.S.-made Patriot and THAAD for air defence. However, the Akash offers a compelling alternative—cost-competitive, battle-proven, and free of the geopolitical strings often attached to Western arms deals. For India, the UAE’s interest in the Akash could open doors to other Gulf markets, where nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar are also modernizing their arsenals amid regional tensions with Iran.
The Akash surface-to-air missile system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a cornerstone of India’s air defence capabilities. With a range of 25 km, the system is designed to intercept a variety of aerial threats, including hostile aircraft, helicopters, drones, and subsonic cruise missiles. Inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2014 and the Indian Army in 2015, the Akash boasts over 96% indigenous content, making it a flagship of India’s “Make in India” initiative. Its ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously—demonstrated in a 2023 test where it neutralized four aerial threats at once—has positioned it as a reliable and cost-effective alternative to Western and Russian systems.
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