For a long time, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has symbolised India’s expanding defence export ambitions. Now, another homegrown military system, Akashteer, is reportedly on track to emerge as the nation’s next major defence success story.
Renewed interest from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in procuring both BrahMos and Akashteer is seen as highlighting how India’s defence exports are expanding beyond offensive strike systems to encompass sophisticated battlefield management and air-defence technologies.
A report by The Economic Times states that India and the UAE are presently negotiating a potential deal involving the sale of the two systems. While BrahMos has already established itself as a globally recognised weapon system with export orders and growing international demand, Akashteer represents a different category of military capability.
Jointly developed by the Indian Army and Bharat Electronics Ltd, Akashteer is a fully indigenous, automated air defence command-and-control system that unifies radars, sensors, communication networks, and weapon platforms into a single, integrated operational picture. Its capacity to identify, monitor, and coordinate real-time responses to aerial threats has drawn interest from nations looking to defend themselves against increasingly advanced missile, drone, and air assaults.
The UAE’s reported interest comes at a time when Gulf nations are reassessing their air-defence requirements amid heightened regional security concerns. As per the report, defence analysts view Akashteer as a potentially attractive export because it offers what modern militaries increasingly require: networked warfare capabilities rather than standalone weapon systems.
If BrahMos represents India’s offensive military strength, Akashteer could emerge as the leading export of its defensive technology ecosystem, it said. As India’s defence exports hit unprecedented highs and homegrown systems gain prominence abroad, Akashteer could mark the next phase in New Delhi’s drive to become a leading global arms exporter.
