Rajnath offers UAE made-in-India Akash missile system

India Offers Akash Missile System to UAE as Part of Boosted Defence Ties

India has extended an offer to the United Arab Emirates for its domestically produced Akash air defense missile system, a major step in fortifying defense ties. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is presently in New Delhi on an official visit, discussed the concept at a high level.

The Akash missile system is designed to intercept and neutralize a variety of aerial threats, including enemy aircraft, helicopters, drones, and low-speed cruise missiles, at a range of up to 25 kilometers. The offer reflects India’s broader strategy to expand defence exports to friendly nations, especially in regions like the Gulf and Southeast Asia.

India has been actively promoting its domestically developed weapons platforms such as the Akash, the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, and the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. While the Philippines has already procured BrahMos coastal defence systems, Armenia has emerged as the first international buyer of Akash and Pinaka systems, along with Indian-made 155mm artillery guns.

During the meeting, both India and the UAE agreed to enhance their bilateral defence cooperation to reflect the growth seen in other sectors such as trade and investment. The discussions covered a wide range of collaborative areas, including joint military exercises, training programs, defence-industrial partnerships, co-development projects, research and development, and technology transfer.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the talks as highly productive and reiterated India’s strong commitment to deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership with the UAE. “For India, our partnership with the UAE holds great significance. We look forward to working together on co-production, innovation, and other strategic areas. Both our countries are dedicated to promoting peace and prosperity in the region,” he said.

The two sides acknowledged the shared vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, aiming to transform bilateral defence ties into a dynamic and forward-looking partnership.

This development marks another milestone in the growing India-UAE relationship and signals India’s intent to play a larger role in global defence collaboration through its “Make in India” initiative.