The first Indian Akash-1S surface-to-air missile systems will arrive in Armenia by the end of this year, Indian Defense Research Wing reports. According to the publication, Yerevan has ordered 15 units of these air defense systems at a cost of $720 million. Armenia will be the first foreign buyer of these Indian systems. The Akash-1S systems utilize a combination of simultaneous active target acquisition and guidance, providing a robust defense against airborne threats such as fighter jets, guided missiles and drones. "The Akash-1S was developed in 1983 and adopted into service 30 years later. It can shoot down aerial targets within a range of 4 to 25 kilometers. The acquisition of this advanced air defense system is expected to significantly increase Armenia's military potential.The successful production and imminent delivery of Akash 1S to Armenia underscores India's growing role in defense technology and its status as a major global arms exporter.