Two Central Asian states have purchased air defense systems from India

Two Central Asian countries have purchased air defense systems from India

Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have purchased "Akash" air defense systems. This was announced by Samir Kamat, the former chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. The first foreign buyer of this complex was Armenia.

According to the statement released by Kamat, this step indicates the entry of Indian military-industrial enterprises into the Central Asian market. However, it has not yet been disclosed how many systems have been delivered to which country, which modifications they are, and the value of the contracts.

The first reports about Dushanbe and Ashgabat negotiating with India on the purchase of air defense systems emerged in August. At that time, observers speculated that it could be the updated Mk 1S version of the "Akash" system. However, since other details have not been disclosed, it remains unknown whether the systems mentioned by Kamat were delivered under the August agreement or relate to an earlier signed deal.

If this news is confirmed, it will be a significant historical step for the Central Asian countries. This is because Russia has been the region's main partner in military-technical cooperation, especially in air defense systems. Although China has also been entering this market with its advanced systems in recent years, interest in military equipment manufactured in India was not high. This shows that the countries of the region are diversifying their suppliers.

What kind of system is this?

"Akash" is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system used against aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. It was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. The serial production of the systems is carried out by the country's largest defense technology company, Bharat Dynamics Limited.

This system is based on mobile platforms, which ensures high mobility. It can detect up to 64 targets through the "Rajendra 3D" radar and simultaneously guide missiles against 4 of them. The maximum interception altitude is 20 km, and the range indicator is 25 km.

"Akash Mk 1S" is a modernized version of this system adapted to modern requirements. While the initial model guides the missile to the target via radar throughout the entire flight, the "Akash Mk 1S" uses its own active radio frequency seeker in the final stage. That is, even if communication with the "Rajendra" radar is lost, it can continue the pursuit independently.

The first foreign customer of this system is Armenia. Yerevan purchased them under a $720 million agreement signed with Delhi in 2022. At that time, reports emerged that the Armenians had ordered approximately 15 batteries of the "Akash-1S" complex, paying $48 million for each of them.