India Defence Export: In terms of arms export, India is continuously moving towards breaking all the records of the past decades. In the month of April this year, India delivered the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to the Philippines under a deal worth $375 million. Armenia tops the list as the biggest buyer of India’s arms.
India is now doing something that will make you feel proud. Till now India used to buy weapons only from other countries. But now it is selling weapons to other countries. Even America and France are included in this list.
According to a Times of India report, Armenia has placed a large order of Akash air defense system, Pinaka multi-launch rocket system and 155 mm artillery guns with India. Along with Armenia, America and France are also included in the top three list of India’s arms buyers.
India has an arms order book of $2.6 billion
India is the leader in exporting its weapons to America, France and Armenia. According to the report, India has orders worth 2.6 billion dollars i.e. about 21 thousand crores for the export of military weapons. India’s government and private sector companies are exporting different types of weapons and equipment to about 100 countries.
Demand from India’s ‘Brahmastra’ to armored vehicles
The Brahmos supersonic cruise missile is called India’s Brahmastra. Many countries including the Philippines are in line to get this weapon. India is trying to promote its export to at least 10 countries including South Africa, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Indonesia and Egypt.
Apart from Brahmos missile, India is exporting Dornier-228 aircraft, bulletproof jackets, night vision equipment, artillery guns, radars, Akash missiles, Pinaka rockets and armored vehicles to many countries. India exports aircraft and helicopter wings and other parts to America. At the same time, India exports software and electronic equipment to France.
What does America buy from India?
However, it is worth noting here that although India is not selling weapons to America right now, but its exports to America mainly include sub-systems and parts of weapons. That is, America is currently buying important parts used in weapons from India. These include big global defense companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. These companies buy the fuselage i.e. the main body part of the helicopter, wings and other parts for aircraft and helicopters from India as part of their global supply chain network as well as offset commitments.
What did Armenia buy?
According to the report, Armenia has made several defense deals with India in the last four years. These deals include missiles, cannons, rocket systems, weapon detection radars, bulletproof jackets and night vision equipment. Apart from this, many types of ammunition and cannon shells are also included. Armenia has become the first foreign country to buy the Akash air defense missile system. This missile system made with indigenous technology has a range of 25 kilometers. At the same time, countries like Brazil are also showing interest in co-production and co-development of the advanced version of this system.
Many countries are interested in buying weapons from India
Philippines is also buying military equipment from India. In January 2022, India got a contract of $ 375 million to export three units of BrahMos anti-ship coastal missile battery to the Philippines. After this, other ASEAN countries and some Gulf countries have also shown interest in acquiring this missile. India has developed this precision-strike missile in collaboration with Russia. Even though India remains the world’s largest arms importer, its position is gradually improving now. It has now started exporting weapons to the world.
What is India’s goal in exporting weapons?
India’s annual defense production has reached 1.2 lakh crores in 2023-24. The Modi government is trying to increase it to 3 lakh crores by 2028-29. The defense sector in India is continuously getting stronger. Along with government defense companies, private sector defense companies are also growing rapidly in India. These private sector companies have a 21 percent share in exports.
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