India offers Akash missile system to UAE, eyes deeper defence ties and joint industrial ventures

The discussions spanned a broad range of areas including military exercises, training programmes, joint defence-industrial projects, research and development, and technology transfer, said a Times of India report.

The offer was made during delegation-level talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is currently on a visit to India.

Capable of intercepting enemy aircraft, helicopters, drones, and subsonic cruise missiles within a 25-km range, the Akash system is part of India’s broader push to export key defence platforms such as Akash, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, and the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to “friendly nations” — especially in the Gulf and ASEAN regions.

India has already supplied BrahMos coastal batteries to the Philippines, while Armenia has become the first overseas buyer of the Akash, Pinaka, and 155mm artillery systems.

During Tuesday’s meeting, both sides agreed that defence cooperation needs to be elevated in step with progress achieved in other sectors like trade and commerce, echoing the shared vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

According to the TOI report, Rajnath Singh called the interaction “productive”.

He said, “For India, the comprehensive strategic partnership with the UAE is of immense priority. In the coming years, we are eager to work closely in areas such as defence cooperation, co-production and co-development projects, innovation and technology.”

Both India and the UAE are committed to work towards peace and prosperity in the region, Singh added.

The two leaders also reviewed the current global geopolitical landscape and expressed satisfaction with ongoing defence cooperation under structured frameworks, military drills, and officer training exchanges.

Training initiatives, in particular, were identified as a key pillar in fostering mutual understanding and deeper defence engagement.

Industrial collaboration emerged as a central theme, with both countries agreeing that closer links between their defence manufacturing ecosystems should be embedded into the broader partnership.

They explored avenues for co-production and strategic tie-ups and reaffirmed their commitment to align the ‘Make-in-India’ and ‘Make-in-Emirates’ programmes to their mutual benefit.

Both sides welcomed the role of the India-UAE Defence Partnership Forum, viewing it as a key mechanism for generating new defence ventures and fostering strategic collaboration.