Multiple countries from South America, the Middle East and Africa have shown interest in the acquisition of the indigenous Akash Missile system.
Defence sources told India Today the Akash missile system has generated a lot of interest among countries in the Middle East, South American nations including Brazil, Egypt from Africa and other friendly countries.
The missile system has already received a significant export order from Armenia, with supplies set to commence in the next few months. A few days ago, the firepower of the Akash Missile system was demonstrated during the Astrashakti exercise held by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
A single Akash missile system engaged four unmanned aerial targets simultaneously during the exercise.
During the exercise, four targets came from the same direction in a close formation and split to attack defence assets from multiple directions simultaneously.
The Akash firing Unit was deployed with Firing Level Radar (FLR), a Firing Control Center (FCC), two Akash Air Force Launcher (AAFL) launchers having five armed missiles.
The FLR detected and tracked and the air scenario with four targets was updated to a higher echelon (IACCS).
The targets were assigned to an Akash firing unit to neutralise the threat. The Akash firing unit further assigned the launchers and FCC commander issued the firing commands when the system prompted the engagement as per its capability.
Two Akash missiles were launched from two launchers and the same launcher was assigned to the next two targets.
A total of four missiles were launched within a short span and FLR acquired and guided all four missiles towards the respective targets. All four targets were successfully engaged at maximum range (around 30 km) simultaneously.
India has now become the first country to demonstrate the capability of engaging four targets simultaneously at around 30 km ranges by command guidance using a single firing unit.
The Akash Weapon system, designed by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by BEL/BDL and other industries, has been deployed by the Indian Air Force and Indian Army for the past decade.