India’s growing defense industry has set sights on Central Asia for new customers. In early October, Indian Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, speaking to Asian News International (ANI) held up the indigenously designed and produced Akash medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system as a “success story.” He highlighted exports of the system to Armenia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

“The first customer was Armenia, which has taken multiple batteries,” Singh said. “Thereafter, we’ve also exported it to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Production has stabilised. We have additional orders for our own services, and I’m sure there will be many more from various parts of the world…”

Singh’s comments confirmed a report from July, published in Indian business magazine BW Businessworld, which cited official data as listing Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as export destinations for the Akash system.

Although ANI reported that both India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Ministry of Defense had confirmed that “Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have joined the buyer list,” neither of the Central Asian countries has commented publicly on the reports.

Central Asia’s militaries have been diversifying suppliers, but the bulk of region forces remain Soviet and/or Russian in design and procurement, with newer additions of Chinese, Turkish, Indian, and Western equipment.

RFE/RL’s Zamira Eshanova recently explained the variety on display:

Recent military parades show just how much Central Asian armies are diversifying their equipment. At its Independence Day parade in Ashgabat on September 27, Turkmenistan displayed a newly acquired Chinese FK-2000 air-defense system, adding to its existing arsenal of Chinese-made missile systems. Also on parade were a Brazilian-made A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft and Italian-made Leonardo M-346 training jets.

Tajikistan, meanwhile, has displayed China’s HQ-17AE air-defense system, along with Chinese-made armored vehicles used to transport and protect troops. During its 2026 Independence Day celebrations, Uzbekistan also showcased Chinese J-10CE fighter jets. And, in recent years, Kyrgyzstan has acquired several types of Turkish military drones.

Essentially nothing is known publicly about the Indian defense exports to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan: the number of systems, the delivery timelines, or the prices.

More is known about the Armenia exports, which may provide some insight for Central Asia watchers. Armenia signed a $720 million deal with Bharat Dynamics Limited in 2022 for an unknown number of Akash SAMs and 15 Ashwin ballistic missile interceptors. Although deliveries were pushed back, in November 2024 Yerevan took delivery of its first Akash battery, which included four launchers a Rajendra radar. A second delivery reportedly took place in July 2025.

As the Oxus Society noted in an October 2024 report on Tajikistan’s military, “India’s military involvement in Tajikistan dates back to the early 1990s and early 2000s, beginning with the refurbishment of Tajikistan’s Ayni Airbase.” But after the base was refurbished, Tajikistan pivoted back to Russia, walking back plans for India to station its own military assets at the site. Instead, Dushnabe signed and agreement with Moscow to allow Russian forces to use the base. India has had access to, though not a permanent presence, at the Farkhor Airbase near the Afghan border.

Prior to the apparent Akash deals, India hadn’t sold any defense equipment to Tajikistan or Turkmenistan. 

The export of one type of system, if and when they arrive into Central Asian hands, won’t fundamentally alter the military supplier balance in the region. But it underscores that regional governments are looking for additional partners and pathways out of strict dependence on Russia for defense materials. Such a move introduces new problems, specially regarding interoperability – the ability of different systems to work together effectively.