During the same defence visit to BEL Bengaluru in February 2026, which air defence system regiments were flagged off for combat deployment?

During the 16 February 2026 visit to Bharat Electronics Limited in Bengaluru, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the combat systems for the Akash 3rd and 4th Regiment. The Akash missile system is an indigenous surface-to-air missile developed to provide air defence against aircraft, drones, and other aerial threats. These regiments form part of India’s layered air defence architecture and represent the operational deployment of domestically developed missile technology. The flagging off of additional regiments reflects the ongoing expansion of India’s indigenous air defence capability and the operational readiness of these systems.