After Akash ADS, Armenia eyes more air defence system from India

Armenia is expanding its defence procurement strategy by looking to secure a wider array of military products from India, including advanced military drones and midrange surface-to-air missiles.

Armenia has already acquired the Akash 1S Surface-to-Air defence System and is considering additional systems such as the Indo-Israeli Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) and the Akash-NG Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Defence System, idrw.org reports.

While India is yet to commence the delivery of the Akash 1S system to Armenia, these deliveries are expected to begin next year. The Akash 1S is a sophisticated air defence system capable of targeting aircraft up to 30 km away, providing a robust shield against aerial threats.

In addition to the Akash 1S, Armenia has shown interest in two other missile defence systems. The MR-SAM, developed through a collaboration between India and Israel, is already in production and offers a proven track record of effectiveness. On the other hand, the Akash-NG, an advanced variant of the Akash missile, is still awaiting orders from the Indian Army and Air Force, which may delay its availability by 2-3 years.

Upon the commencement of Akash 1S deliveries, Armenia plans to conduct thorough technical evaluations of the MR-SAM and the Akash-NG system to ensure it meet their defence requirements. Based on these evaluations, a decision will be made between the MR-SAM and the Akash-NG. According to sources from idrw.org, the MR-SAM is currently the more favored option due to its immediate availability and established production line.