India Exports Akash Air Defence System to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed on 1 October 2026 that India has exported the indigenous Akash air defence system to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Armenia was the first foreign customer, and the two Central Asian states are the later destinations. Akash was designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and is produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited. The Defence Secretary said production of the system has stabilised and that orders continue from the Indian armed forces. The export comes against the backdrop of India's record defence exports of 38,424 crore rupees in the financial year 2025-26.

What Happened

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh stated on 1 October 2026 that the Akash air defence system has been exported to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. He described Akash as one of India's success stories and said production of the system has stabilised, with continued orders from the Indian armed forces alongside anticipated international demand. Armenia had been the first foreign buyer, and the two Central Asian states followed. The confirmation, rather than a fresh contract signing, is what was announced.

When & Where

The Defence Secretary's confirmation came on 1 October 2026. The recipient countries are Armenia in the South Caucasus and Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in Central Asia. Akash is designed at the Defence Research and Development Organisation's laboratories, with production at Bharat Dynamics Limited, headquartered at Hyderabad, and Bharat Electronics Limited, headquartered at Bengaluru.

Who Is Involved

Rajesh Kumar Singh — Defence Secretary, who confirmed the export destinations.
Defence Research and Development Organisation — the agency that designed the Akash weapon system and is developing the Akash-NG variant.
Bharat Dynamics Limited — the defence public sector undertaking that produces the missile; it is a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Defence.
Bharat Electronics Limited — the defence public sector undertaking that supplies the radar and electronic systems of the Akash battery.
Armenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan — the three foreign customers for the system.

How It Works

Akash is a short range surface-to-air missile system, which means it protects a defined area — an airbase, a formation or a vital installation — rather than escorting a single aircraft or ship.
The battery's radars detect and track incoming aerial threats, which include fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, guided munitions and unmanned aerial vehicles, and build a picture of the airspace around the protected area.
Guidance is by command, which means the ground station continuously computes the intercept and transmits steering instructions to the missile in flight rather than leaving the missile to find the target on its own.
The missile engages targets at ranges from 4.5 km out to 25 km and at altitudes from 100 m up to 20 km, which covers both low-flying attack profiles and higher approach routes.
The system is mounted on mobile platforms and can engage multiple targets at the same time, so a single battery can both move with a formation and handle a saturated attack.
Electronic counter-measure features are built in, which allows the system to continue functioning when an attacker tries to jam or deceive its radars.

Why It Matters

Strategic: an air defence sale creates a long relationship, because the buyer depends on the seller for spares, training and upgrades for decades.
Economic: defence exports earn foreign exchange and raise production volumes, which lowers unit cost for India's own armed forces as well.
Technological: the Defence Secretary's observation that production has stabilised points to a mature design and production chain, which is the hardest part of a missile programme to build.
Geopolitical: Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have traditionally used Russian military equipment, so their purchase marks a diversification of defence procurement in Central Asia.

Historical Background

Akash originated in the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, which India launched in 1983 under the leadership of Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. That programme covered five systems — Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag — with Akash as the medium-altitude area air defence component. The Defence Research and Development Organisation, established in 1958, led the design work, and Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited were brought in for series production. Akash entered service with the Indian armed forces and was later cleared for export, with Armenia becoming its first overseas customer.

Previous Related Events

1 October 2026: the Defence Secretary confirmed that Akash has been exported to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
2 April 2026: the Ministry of Defence reported that India's defence exports had reached a record 38,424 crore rupees in the financial year 2025-26, against 23,622 crore rupees in 2024-25.
Before the Central Asian orders: Armenia placed the first foreign order for the Akash system, which opened the export account for the platform.

Static GK Connection

Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme: launched in 1983 under Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, it covered Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag, and remains the foundation of India's missile capability.
Defence Research and Development Organisation: established in 1958 and headquartered at New Delhi, it is the research and development wing of the Ministry of Defence.
Surface-to-air missile: a missile launched from the ground or a ship to destroy an aerial target, distinguished from surface-to-surface, air-to-air and anti-tank guided missiles by the launch and target environment.
Defence public sector undertakings: Bharat Dynamics Limited at Hyderabad produces missiles and Bharat Electronics Limited at Bengaluru produces radars and electronic systems, both under the Ministry of Defence.
Central Asia and India: Tajikistan is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which India joined in 2017, while Turkmenistan follows a policy of permanent neutrality.

India & World Comparison

India's defence exports reached 38,424 crore rupees in the financial year 2025-26 and went to more than 80 countries, with the number of exporting firms rising from 128 to 145 — a large relative gain, though India remains a far smaller arms exporter than the United States, Russia or France. What distinguishes the Akash sale is the segment: integrated air defence systems are among the harder categories to export, because the buyer must trust the seller's electronics and software, not merely its airframes. The fact that two states accustomed to Russian equipment chose an Indian system is the measure of that trust.

Future Impact

Akash-NG, the next-generation variant under development with Indian industry, is expected to extend the capability of the family in coming years.
The Defence Secretary indicated that further international demand is anticipated, which would add to the three existing customers.
Continued orders from the Indian armed forces will keep the production line running and hold down unit costs.
Defence export performance beyond the 38,424 crore rupees recorded in 2025-26 will be the yardstick for whether the Akash sales represent a trend or an exception.

🔑 Key Points for Revision

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed the Akash exports on 1 October 2026.
Akash has been exported to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Armenia was the first foreign customer for Akash.
Akash is a short range surface-to-air missile system.
It was designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
It is produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited.
Range of the Akash weapon system: 4.5 km to 25 km.
Altitude coverage: 100 m up to 20 km; guidance is by command.
Missile dimensions: 5,870 mm length, 350 mm diameter, 710 kg weight.
Akash-NG is the next-generation variant under development.
India's defence exports in 2025-26: 38,424 crore rupees, an all-time high.
Growth over 2024-25: 62.66 per cent, from 23,622 crore rupees.
Defence public sector undertakings: 21,071 crore rupees, 54.84 per cent share.
Private sector: 17,353 crore rupees, 45.16 per cent share.
Exports went to more than 80 countries; exporting firms rose from 128 to 145.
Akash originated in the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme launched in 1983.

🧠 Concept Link (Static GK Deep Dive)

Core Concept: Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and India's Defence Export Ecosystem

Definition: A surface-to-air missile system is a ground or ship based weapon that detects, tracks and destroys aerial threats within a defined envelope of range and altitude.
Constitutional / Legal Basis: Defence of India is a Union subject under the Seventh Schedule, which places defence research, production and arms export policy entirely with the Union Government. The specific entry number is not given here.
Scientific / Economic Principle: Command guidance works by keeping the computation on the ground: the radar tracks both the target and the missile, a computer solves the intercept, and steering commands are radioed to the missile. This keeps the missile itself simple and cheap, at the cost of tying it to the ground station's radar coverage.
Link to this event: Akash uses exactly this command guidance arrangement, which is one reason the system is affordable enough to be attractive to buyers such as Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Origin & History: Akash began under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme launched in 1983 under Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, alongside Prithvi, Agni, Trishul and Nag.
Key milestone 1: The Defence Research and Development Organisation was established in 1958 as the research and development arm of the Ministry of Defence.
Key milestone 2: India's defence exports reached a record 38,424 crore rupees in the financial year 2025-26, a rise of 62.66 per cent over the previous year.
Related Acts / Schemes / Treaties: the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme; defence indigenisation policy and positive indigenisation lists; the Defence Acquisition Procedure that governs procurement and offsets.
Nodal Ministry / Body: The Ministry of Defence, through the Department of Defence Production and the Department of Defence Research and Development, governs design, production and export clearance.
India-specific relevance: India has long been among the world's largest arms importers, so every indigenous system exported reverses that flow and reduces dependence on foreign suppliers for its own defence.
Global comparison: The United States, Russia and France dominate global arms exports; India's 38,424 crore rupees in 2025-26 is small by that measure but represents a 62.66 per cent single-year jump.
Data point: Defence public sector undertakings contributed 21,071 crore rupees, or 54.84 per cent, of the 2025-26 export total of 38,424 crore rupees.
Common exam angle: Examiners ask which organisation developed Akash, who produces it, which countries have bought it, its classification as a surface-to-air system, and the latest defence export figure.
Easy memory hook: "PATAN" for the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme — Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash, Nag.

❓ Practice MCQs

Q1. Which three countries have received India's Akash air defence system? [Easy]

A) Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan

B) Armenia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

C) Armenia, Vietnam and the Philippines

D) Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan

Answer: A

Explanation: The Defence Secretary confirmed on 1 October 2026 that Akash has been exported to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Q2. Which organisation designed the Akash weapon system? [Easy]

A) Indian Space Research Organisation

B) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

C) Defence Research and Development Organisation

D) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

Answer: C

Explanation: Akash was designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which is also developing the Akash-NG variant.

Q3. Which country was the first foreign customer for the Akash air defence system? [Moderate]

A) Armenia

B) Tajikistan

C) Turkmenistan

D) Philippines

Answer: A

Explanation: Armenia placed the first foreign order for Akash, with Tajikistan and Turkmenistan following as later export destinations.

Q4. What were India's defence exports in the financial year 2025-26? [Moderate]

A) 23,622 crore rupees

B) 21,071 crore rupees

C) 38,424 crore rupees

D) 17,353 crore rupees

Answer: C

Explanation: Defence exports reached an all-time high of 38,424 crore rupees in 2025-26, against 23,622 crore rupees in 2024-25.

Q5. How is the Akash weapon system classified? [Moderate]

A) Surface-to-surface ballistic missile

B) Short range surface-to-air missile system

C) Anti-ship cruise missile

D) Air-to-air missile

Answer: B

Explanation: Akash is a short range surface-to-air missile system with a range of 4.5 km to 25 km and altitude coverage from 100 m to 20 km.

Q6. By what percentage did India's defence exports grow in 2025-26 over the previous financial year? [Tricky]

A) 151 per cent

B) 14 per cent

C) 13.3 per cent

D) 62.66 per cent

Answer: D

Explanation: Total defence exports grew 62.66 per cent; 151 per cent was the growth in the public sector undertaking component and 14 per cent in the private sector component.

Q7. What was the share of defence public sector undertakings in India's 2025-26 defence exports? [Tricky]

A) 17,353 crore rupees, or 45.16 per cent

B) 21,071 crore rupees, or 54.84 per cent

C) 38,424 crore rupees, or 100 per cent

D) 23,622 crore rupees, or 61 per cent

Answer: B

Explanation: Defence public sector undertakings accounted for 21,071 crore rupees, or 54.84 per cent, while the private sector accounted for 17,353 crore rupees, or 45.16 per cent.

Q8. Which organisations produce the Akash weapon system? [Tricky]

A) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Bharat Earth Movers Limited

B) Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited

C) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Garden Reach Shipbuilders

D) Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited and Hindustan Shipyard

Answer: B

Explanation: Akash is produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited, which makes the missile, and Bharat Electronics Limited, which supplies the radar and electronic systems.

📜 Previous Year Question Style (PYQ)

PYQ 1:

Under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, which of the following is a surface-to-air missile?

A) Prithvi

B) Agni

C) Akash

D) Nag

Answer: C

Explanation: Akash is the surface-to-air missile of the programme; Prithvi is a surface-to-surface missile, Agni is a ballistic missile and Nag is an anti-tank guided missile.

PYQ 2:

Consider the following statements:

The Akash weapon system was designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Armenia was the first foreign customer for the Akash system.
India's defence exports in the financial year 2025-26 were lower than in 2024-25.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 1 and 2 only

C) 2 and 3 only

D) All of the above

Answer: B

Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong because exports rose to 38,424 crore rupees in 2025-26 from 23,622 crore rupees in 2024-25.

PYQ 3:

Assertion (A): Tajikistan and Turkmenistan acquiring the Akash air defence system marks a diversification of defence procurement in Central Asia.

Reason (R): Both countries have traditionally relied on Russian military equipment.

Select the correct answer:

A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A

C) A is true but R is false

D) A is false but R is true

Answer: A

Explanation: Both states have traditionally used Russian military equipment, which is precisely why their choice of an Indian system counts as diversification rather than routine procurement.

✍️ Mains Answer Pointers

Question 1 (150 words): How do defence exports serve India's strategic and economic interests?

Defence exports serve both interests at once because an arms sale is not a single transaction but the start of a long dependency. A buyer of an air defence system needs spares, training and upgrades from the seller for decades, which converts a contract into a standing relationship. The confirmation on 1 October 2026 that Akash has gone to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan therefore gives India three such relationships.

Economically the gain is twofold. Exports earn foreign exchange, and they raise production volumes, which lowers the unit cost at which India's own armed forces buy the same system. The Defence Secretary's remark that Akash production has stabilised reflects exactly this maturing of the line.

The scale is visible in the aggregate: defence exports reached 38,424 crore rupees in the financial year 2025-26, up 62.66 per cent over the previous year, reaching more than 80 countries.

The way forward is to pair export promotion with assured lifetime support, since reliability of supply is what converts a first order into a repeat one.

Question 2 (250 words): Examine India's transition from a major arms importer towards an exporter of complete weapon systems, with reference to the Akash programme.

India's transition rests on a design base built over four decades. The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, launched in 1983 under Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, covered Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag, and Akash was its area air defence component. The Defence Research and Development Organisation, established in 1958, carried the design, while Bharat Dynamics Limited at Hyderabad and Bharat Electronics Limited at Bengaluru took on series production. That division of labour between a research agency and production undertakings is what eventually made an export possible.

The system itself illustrates why it sells. Akash is a short range surface-to-air missile system covering 4.5 km to 25 km and altitudes from 100 m to 20 km, with command guidance that keeps the computation on the ground and the missile comparatively simple. It is mobile, can engage multiple targets at once and carries electronic counter-measure features. For a state seeking affordable area air defence, this combination is attractive.

The aggregate picture confirms the shift. Defence exports reached a record 38,424 crore rupees in the financial year 2025-26, against 23,622 crore rupees in 2024-25, a rise of 62.66 per cent. Public sector undertakings contributed 21,071 crore rupees and the private sector 17,353 crore rupees, with equipment going to more than 80 countries and the number of exporting firms rising from 128 to 145.

Two cautions are in order. India remains far behind the United States, Russia and France in absolute terms, and air defence exports in particular demand assured long-term support that a young export ecosystem has yet to prove.

The balanced conclusion is that the Akash sales to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are a genuine milestone, and the next test is whether Akash-NG and sustained after-sales support can turn these first customers into repeat ones.

⚠️ Examiner Trap

Trap 1: Students confuse the designer with the producer of Akash. The correct fact is that the Defence Research and Development Organisation designed the system, while Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited produce it.
Trap 2: A common wrong assumption is that Tajikistan or Turkmenistan was the first foreign buyer of Akash. The reality is that Armenia was the first foreign customer, and the two Central Asian states followed.
Trap 3: Many students miss the difference between the total export growth and the sectoral growth figures. Always remember that total defence exports grew 62.66 per cent in 2025-26, while the public sector undertaking component grew 151 per cent and the private sector component 14 per cent.

India Exports Akash Air Defence System to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan

What Happened

When & Where

Who Is Involved

Rajesh Kumar Singh — Defence Secretary, who confirmed the export destinations.
Defence Research and Development Organisation — the agency that designed the Akash weapon system and is developing the Akash-NG variant.
Bharat Dynamics Limited — the defence public sector undertaking that produces the missile; it is a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Defence.
Bharat Electronics Limited — the defence public sector undertaking that supplies the radar and electronic systems of the Akash battery.
Armenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan — the three foreign customers for the system.

How It Works

Akash is a short range surface-to-air missile system, which means it protects a defined area — an airbase, a formation or a vital installation — rather than escorting a single aircraft or ship.
The battery's radars detect and track incoming aerial threats, which include fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, guided munitions and unmanned aerial vehicles, and build a picture of the airspace around the protected area.
Guidance is by command, which means the ground station continuously computes the intercept and transmits steering instructions to the missile in flight rather than leaving the missile to find the target on its own.
The missile engages targets at ranges from 4.5 km out to 25 km and at altitudes from 100 m up to 20 km, which covers both low-flying attack profiles and higher approach routes.
The system is mounted on mobile platforms and can engage multiple targets at the same time, so a single battery can both move with a formation and handle a saturated attack.
Electronic counter-measure features are built in, which allows the system to continue functioning when an attacker tries to jam or deceive its radars.

Why It Matters

Strategic: an air defence sale creates a long relationship, because the buyer depends on the seller for spares, training and upgrades for decades.
Economic: defence exports earn foreign exchange and raise production volumes, which lowers unit cost for India's own armed forces as well.
Technological: the Defence Secretary's observation that production has stabilised points to a mature design and production chain, which is the hardest part of a missile programme to build.
Geopolitical: Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have traditionally used Russian military equipment, so their purchase marks a diversification of defence procurement in Central Asia.

Historical Background

Previous Related Events

1 October 2026: the Defence Secretary confirmed that Akash has been exported to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
2 April 2026: the Ministry of Defence reported that India's defence exports had reached a record 38,424 crore rupees in the financial year 2025-26, against 23,622 crore rupees in 2024-25.
Before the Central Asian orders: Armenia placed the first foreign order for the Akash system, which opened the export account for the platform.

Static GK Connection

Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme: launched in 1983 under Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, it covered Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag, and remains the foundation of India's missile capability.
Defence Research and Development Organisation: established in 1958 and headquartered at New Delhi, it is the research and development wing of the Ministry of Defence.
Surface-to-air missile: a missile launched from the ground or a ship to destroy an aerial target, distinguished from surface-to-surface, air-to-air and anti-tank guided missiles by the launch and target environment.
Defence public sector undertakings: Bharat Dynamics Limited at Hyderabad produces missiles and Bharat Electronics Limited at Bengaluru produces radars and electronic systems, both under the Ministry of Defence.
Central Asia and India: Tajikistan is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which India joined in 2017, while Turkmenistan follows a policy of permanent neutrality.

India & World Comparison

Future Impact

Akash-NG, the next-generation variant under development with Indian industry, is expected to extend the capability of the family in coming years.
The Defence Secretary indicated that further international demand is anticipated, which would add to the three existing customers.
Continued orders from the Indian armed forces will keep the production line running and hold down unit costs.
Defence export performance beyond the 38,424 crore rupees recorded in 2025-26 will be the yardstick for whether the Akash sales represent a trend or an exception.

🔑 Key Points for Revision

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed the Akash exports on 1 October 2026.
Akash has been exported to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Armenia was the first foreign customer for Akash.
Akash is a short range surface-to-air missile system.
It was designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
It is produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited.
Range of the Akash weapon system: 4.5 km to 25 km.
Altitude coverage: 100 m up to 20 km; guidance is by command.
Missile dimensions: 5,870 mm length, 350 mm diameter, 710 kg weight.
Akash-NG is the next-generation variant under development.
India's defence exports in 2025-26: 38,424 crore rupees, an all-time high.
Growth over 2024-25: 62.66 per cent, from 23,622 crore rupees.
Defence public sector undertakings: 21,071 crore rupees, 54.84 per cent share.
Private sector: 17,353 crore rupees, 45.16 per cent share.
Exports went to more than 80 countries; exporting firms rose from 128 to 145.
Akash originated in the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme launched in 1983.

🧠 Concept Link (Static GK Deep Dive)

Core Concept: Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and India's Defence Export Ecosystem

Definition: A surface-to-air missile system is a ground or ship based weapon that detects, tracks and destroys aerial threats within a defined envelope of range and altitude.
Constitutional / Legal Basis: Defence of India is a Union subject under the Seventh Schedule, which places defence research, production and arms export policy entirely with the Union Government. The specific entry number is not given here.
Scientific / Economic Principle: Command guidance works by keeping the computation on the ground: the radar tracks both the target and the missile, a computer solves the intercept, and steering commands are radioed to the missile. This keeps the missile itself simple and cheap, at the cost of tying it to the ground station's radar coverage.
Link to this event: Akash uses exactly this command guidance arrangement, which is one reason the system is affordable enough to be attractive to buyers such as Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Origin & History: Akash began under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme launched in 1983 under Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, alongside Prithvi, Agni, Trishul and Nag.
Key milestone 1: The Defence Research and Development Organisation was established in 1958 as the research and development arm of the Ministry of Defence.
Key milestone 2: India's defence exports reached a record 38,424 crore rupees in the financial year 2025-26, a rise of 62.66 per cent over the previous year.
Related Acts / Schemes / Treaties: the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme; defence indigenisation policy and positive indigenisation lists; the Defence Acquisition Procedure that governs procurement and offsets.
Nodal Ministry / Body: The Ministry of Defence, through the Department of Defence Production and the Department of Defence Research and Development, governs design, production and export clearance.
India-specific relevance: India has long been among the world's largest arms importers, so every indigenous system exported reverses that flow and reduces dependence on foreign suppliers for its own defence.
Global comparison: The United States, Russia and France dominate global arms exports; India's 38,424 crore rupees in 2025-26 is small by that measure but represents a 62.66 per cent single-year jump.
Data point: Defence public sector undertakings contributed 21,071 crore rupees, or 54.84 per cent, of the 2025-26 export total of 38,424 crore rupees.
Common exam angle: Examiners ask which organisation developed Akash, who produces it, which countries have bought it, its classification as a surface-to-air system, and the latest defence export figure.
Easy memory hook: "PATAN" for the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme — Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash, Nag.

❓ Practice MCQs

Q1. Which three countries have received India's Akash air defence system? [Easy]

A) Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan

B) Armenia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

C) Armenia, Vietnam and the Philippines

D) Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan

Answer: A

Explanation: The Defence Secretary confirmed on 1 October 2026 that Akash has been exported to Armenia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Q2. Which organisation designed the Akash weapon system? [Easy]

A) Indian Space Research Organisation

B) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

C) Defence Research and Development Organisation

D) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

Answer: C

Explanation: Akash was designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which is also developing the Akash-NG variant.

Q3. Which country was the first foreign customer for the Akash air defence system? [Moderate]

A) Armenia

B) Tajikistan

C) Turkmenistan

D) Philippines

Answer: A

Explanation: Armenia placed the first foreign order for Akash, with Tajikistan and Turkmenistan following as later export destinations.

Q4. What were India's defence exports in the financial year 2025-26? [Moderate]

A) 23,622 crore rupees

B) 21,071 crore rupees

C) 38,424 crore rupees

D) 17,353 crore rupees

Answer: C

Explanation: Defence exports reached an all-time high of 38,424 crore rupees in 2025-26, against 23,622 crore rupees in 2024-25.

Q5. How is the Akash weapon system classified? [Moderate]

A) Surface-to-surface ballistic missile

B) Short range surface-to-air missile system

C) Anti-ship cruise missile

D) Air-to-air missile

Answer: B

Explanation: Akash is a short range surface-to-air missile system with a range of 4.5 km to 25 km and altitude coverage from 100 m to 20 km.

Q6. By what percentage did India's defence exports grow in 2025-26 over the previous financial year? [Tricky]

A) 151 per cent

B) 14 per cent

C) 13.3 per cent

D) 62.66 per cent

Answer: D

Explanation: Total defence exports grew 62.66 per cent; 151 per cent was the growth in the public sector undertaking component and 14 per cent in the private sector component.

Q7. What was the share of defence public sector undertakings in India's 2025-26 defence exports? [Tricky]

A) 17,353 crore rupees, or 45.16 per cent

B) 21,071 crore rupees, or 54.84 per cent

C) 38,424 crore rupees, or 100 per cent

D) 23,622 crore rupees, or 61 per cent

Answer: B

Explanation: Defence public sector undertakings accounted for 21,071 crore rupees, or 54.84 per cent, while the private sector accounted for 17,353 crore rupees, or 45.16 per cent.

Q8. Which organisations produce the Akash weapon system? [Tricky]

A) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Bharat Earth Movers Limited

B) Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited

C) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Garden Reach Shipbuilders

D) Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited and Hindustan Shipyard

Answer: B

Explanation: Akash is produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited, which makes the missile, and Bharat Electronics Limited, which supplies the radar and electronic systems.

📜 Previous Year Question Style (PYQ)

PYQ 1:

Under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, which of the following is a surface-to-air missile?

A) Prithvi

B) Agni

C) Akash

D) Nag

Answer: C

Explanation: Akash is the surface-to-air missile of the programme; Prithvi is a surface-to-surface missile, Agni is a ballistic missile and Nag is an anti-tank guided missile.

PYQ 2:

Consider the following statements:

The Akash weapon system was designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Armenia was the first foreign customer for the Akash system.
India's defence exports in the financial year 2025-26 were lower than in 2024-25.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 1 and 2 only

C) 2 and 3 only

D) All of the above

Answer: B

Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong because exports rose to 38,424 crore rupees in 2025-26 from 23,622 crore rupees in 2024-25.

PYQ 3:

Assertion (A): Tajikistan and Turkmenistan acquiring the Akash air defence system marks a diversification of defence procurement in Central Asia.

Reason (R): Both countries have traditionally relied on Russian military equipment.

Select the correct answer:

A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A

C) A is true but R is false

D) A is false but R is true

Answer: A

Explanation: Both states have traditionally used Russian military equipment, which is precisely why their choice of an Indian system counts as diversification rather than routine procurement.

✍️ Mains Answer Pointers

Question 1 (150 words): How do defence exports serve India's strategic and economic interests?

The scale is visible in the aggregate: defence exports reached 38,424 crore rupees in the financial year 2025-26, up 62.66 per cent over the previous year, reaching more than 80 countries.

The way forward is to pair export promotion with assured lifetime support, since reliability of supply is what converts a first order into a repeat one.

Question 2 (250 words): Examine India's transition from a major arms importer towards an exporter of complete weapon systems, with reference to the Akash programme.

⚠️ Examiner Trap

Trap 1: Students confuse the designer with the producer of Akash. The correct fact is that the Defence Research and Development Organisation designed the system, while Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited produce it.
Trap 2: A common wrong assumption is that Tajikistan or Turkmenistan was the first foreign buyer of Akash. The reality is that Armenia was the first foreign customer, and the two Central Asian states followed.
Trap 3: Many students miss the difference between the total export growth and the sectoral growth figures. Always remember that total defence exports grew 62.66 per cent in 2025-26, while the public sector undertaking component grew 151 per cent and the private sector component 14 per cent.