By IANS
Bangalore : The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India hopes to get export orders for its indigenously developed all weather missile system, Akash, at an expo to be held in Delhi Feb 16.
The missile system will be exhibited along with other products developed by the DRDO at the Delhi Defence Expo, a senior official of the organisation said.
The Indian defence ministry recently gave DRDO a green signal to export its products.
“We are confident of getting some export orders for Akash and other missile systems like Nag, radars and other products,” DRDO Chief Controller (R&D) Prahlada told reporters here Friday.
Akash is a surface-to-air missile while Nag is an anti-tank missile. Akash has a range of about 25 km and its radar can simultaneously track up to 64 targets.
About 30 countries have already approached the DRDO for detailed information about its products, procedures for exports and the time the organisation wants to deliver the product, Prahalada said.
Actual exports may take a year to come about because of the long procedures involved including clearance from the Indian government and that of the importing country, he said.
There was a huge potential to export products of Indian defence public-sector undertakings and the Delhi Defence Expo will be a good opportunity to tap it, Prahlada said.
DRDO is expecting Rs.30-billion order from the Indian defence forces for Akash, he said.