Brazil drops Akash Missile deal with India

BRASILIA: Raising fresh questions about the reliability of Indian defence systems, Brazil has officially halted talks with India over the purchase of the Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.

Instead, the country is now eyeing Italy’s more advanced Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions (EMADS), according to media reports.

Negotiations reportedly stalled after India offered Brazil an older version of the Akash missile system, which lacks the technological upgrades present in the newer variant jointly developed with Israeli firms.

The Akash system, developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a medium-range SAM platform designed to counter aerial threats like aircraft, helicopters, and drones.

However, the earlier version lacks key modern features such as active radar homing and integrated networked targeting, according to a report published in the Pakistan Defence Forum.

Brazilian officials reportedly raised concerns over the system’s Soviet-era design, noting its absence of essential components like datalinks and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems. Performance during trials was also found lacking, with reports of frequent inaccuracies and fire control radar failures, some of which were observed during the Kashmir skirmishes.

While the Akash missile boasts a top speed of Mach 2.5, an operational ceiling of 20,000 metres, and a range of 30 kilometres, its outdated configuration and trial failures have impacted its credibility in the global arms market.

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