In a significant move to bolster its global defence partnerships, India has expressed interest in supplying its indigenously developed Akash missile system to Brazil. The proposal was put forward during high-level talks in New Delhi on Wednesday, signalling a new chapter in the strategic relationship between the two major democracies.
The meeting, which brought together Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, along with Brazil’s Defence Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro Filho, focused on identifying concrete areas to deepen the strategic partnership. A key emphasis was placed on collaboration in defence production and technological co-development.
“Happy to have met the Vice President of Brazil... today in New Delhi. We had forward-looking discussions on issues pertaining to Defence Cooperation with a focus on expanding Military to Military Cooperation and Defence Industrial Collaboration,” Rajnath Singh posted on the social media platform X after the meeting.
According to a statement from the Indian Defence Ministry, the discussions were aimed at leveraging the complementary strengths of both nations in manufacturing and innovation. The goal is to forge a partnership that supports shared security objectives and moves beyond a simple buyer-seller relationship towards joint research, development, and production.
The Akash System: A Made-in-India Powerhouse
At the heart of the proposal lies the Akash missile system, a flagship of India's self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Akash is a sophisticated medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.
Key capabilities of the Akash system include:
Range and Altitude: It can engage targets at a range of up to 30 kilometres and at altitudes of up to 18 kilometres.
Versatile Targeting: The system is capable of neutralising a variety of aerial threats, including aircraft, helicopters, drones, and subsonic cruise missiles.
Robust Design: The missile uses a solid-fuel propellant and can carry a 60 kg high-explosive, pre-fragmented warhead.
Advanced Guidance: It features a command guidance system with a multi-target tracking radar, ensuring a quick reaction time and high kill probability.
The Akash system is already a crucial component of the Indian Army and Air Force's air defence network. Its newer generation, the Akash-NG (New Generation), offers even greater range, accuracy, and mobility. India has been actively promoting the system for export to friendly nations, and a potential deal with Brazil would mark a major success for its defence export ambitions.
This overture to Brazil represents a strategic push by India to position itself as a reliable defence partner on the global stage, offering capable military technology backed by a vision of joint collaboration and shared progress.
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