 "India’s biggest arms exports deal occurred in April when it delivered three Brahmos missile batteries to the Philippines. Image courtesy: Brahmos Aerospace")
Rajnath Singh has set India a major target.
The defence minister wants to increasing its defence exports to Rs 50,000 crore by 2028-2029.
Singh made the statement after once again taking charge of the defence ministry at the South Block.
“Defence exports had touched a record Rs 21,083 crore in financial Year 2023-24. It was historic. Our target will be to export over Rs 50,000 crore worth of defence equipment by 2028-2029,” Singh said.
In April, Singh announced that India’s defence exports hit an all-time high of Rs 21,000 crore.
Meanwhile, India’s defence production already crossed Rs 1 lakh crore in 2023-24.
The development came amid New Delhi’s push to boost defence exports under the Narendra Modi-led government.
But what arms does India export now?
Let’s take a closer look:
By the numbers
The Ministry of Defence in its statement on 1 April said India’s arms exports had grown 32.5 per cent since the last fiscal.
“The recent figures indicate that the defence exports have grown by 31 times in the last 10 years as compared to FY 2013-14,” the ministry said.
“Total defence exports during 2004-05 to 2013-14 were Rs 4,312 crore, which has gone up to Rs 88,319 crore in the period from 2014-15 to 2023-24,” the ministry added.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAs per New Indian Express, the defence ministry chalked up the massive increase to a collaboration between the private sector and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
The private sector contributes 60 per cent of the exports, while DSPUs make up the remaining 40 per cent.
According to India Today, India’s arms exports were at Rs 1,521 crore in 2016-17.
That figure touched Rs 16,954 crore in 2023-24.
The outlet quoted the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) as saying that Myanmar was India’s largest importer of weapons from 2000 to 2023.
Myanmar made up 31 per cent of India’s exports.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka was second at 19 per cent.
Other major importers include Mauritius, Nepal, Armenia, Vietnam, and Maldives.
India’s ships made up a massive chunk of its defence exports at 61 per cent.
Aircraft comprised 20 per cent, sensors were at 14 per cent, armoured vehicles 2.8 per cent, and artillery 1.1 per cent.
To which countries does India export?
India exports arms to over 85 countries.
These include Italy, the Maldives, Russia, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Egypt, Israel, Spain and Chile.
India’s biggest arms exports deal occurred in April when it delivered three Brahmos missile batteries to the Philippines, as per New Indian Express.
The contract for a shore-based anti-ship missile system was valued at Rs 2,700 crore.
Around 100 firms are exporting defence products in India.
According to Economic Times, India exports Dornier-228 aircraft, radars, armoured vehicles, rockets and launchers, torpedo loading mechanism, alarm monitoring & control systems, lightweight torpedo and fire-control systems, night-vision monocular and binocular, weapons-locating radar, HF (high-frequency) radio and coastal surveillance radar.
India also exports offshore patrol vessels, personal protective gear, surveillance systems and ammunition.
India also provides bullet-proof jackets to 34 nations.
These include Australia, Japan, Israel and Brazil.
Another 10 countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Indonesia and Thailand, have purchased ammunition (ranging between 5.56mm to 155mm) from India.
New Delhi has sold defence electronics to the US, the UK and France and fast interceptor boats to Mauritius, Seychelles and the Maldives.
Vietnam is also looking to buy BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed by Russia and India.
Indonesia is another potential client for the missiles.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in December 2023 announced it was in talks with six nations to export the indigenous light combat aircraft Tejas.
“Talks have picked up pace with Argentina, the Philippines and Nigeria,” HAL chief managing director CB Ananthakrishna was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the Avionics Expo in Delhi, by New Indian Express.
Botswana and Egypt also expressed interest in the Tejas.
HAL aims to reach export sales of Rs 2,500 crore over the next few years, its director of operations Jayadeva EP previously told Reuters.
India also inked a Rs 6,000 crore defence deal to send its anti-air system to Armenia, The Times of India reported.
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) will manufacture and deliver the Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM).
Defence firm Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited plans to supply artillery guns to Armenia for the 155mm weapon system by 2025.
India previously signed a deal to export several weapons, including Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers (MBRL), anti-tank missiles, rockets and ammunition to Armenia.
Armenia in August received its initial shipment of India’s Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS).
New Delhi has reportedly offered the anti-air system for export to Vietnam and the Philippines, while Egypt has also shown interest.
According to The Times of India, some major export deals could be made in the near future.
Sources told the newspaper India could sign deals with The Philippines, Vietnam and Armenia.
The defence ministry is also considering a new defence export agency dedicated to arms sales.
Singh said in February that the Centre expects annual defence production to hit Rs 3 lakh crore by the 2028-2029 financial year.
He made the remarks at the inaugural Firstpost Defence Summit.
“The government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is focusing on long-term gains and not short-term outcomes to make India a developed nation by 2047,” Singh said.
However, India still has a long way to go.
According to SIPRI, India is still not even among the top 25 nations when it comes to defence exports.
‘Ready to face every challenge’
The armed forces are being equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and platforms and they are ready to face every challenge, he told reporters after assuming charge as the defence minister for the second consecutive term.
Singh also commended the military personnel for protecting the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the nation with valour and commitment, in comments that came amid the lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh.
Reflecting growing salience of the Indian Ocean Region in India’s defence calculus, Singh decided that he will undertake the first visit in his second term as defence minister to the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam to interact with the officers and sailors.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our aim will be to further strengthen the security apparatus of the country, with focus on achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing,” he said.
“Armed forces modernisation and the welfare of the soldiers, both serving and retired, will continue to be our main focus,” he said.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on Singh and is understood to have discussed issues relating to national security.
Singh was among the senior BJP leaders including Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Nirmala Sitharaman who retained the ministries that they handled in the previous government.
“Defence exports had touched a record Rs 21,083 crore in financial Year 2023-24. It was historic. Our target will be to export over Rs 50,000 crore worth of defence equipment by 2028-2029,” he said.
With a view to enhance defence preparedness and continued thrust on ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence, Singh said he will be conducting regular review meetings to fast-track implementation of flagship schemes and the initiatives.
He instructed the officers to re-dedicate themselves to fulfill the agenda laid out in the Action Plan.
“I reassumed charge of the Ministry of Defence today. The MoD shall continue working towards self-reliance in Defence. Our Armed Forces have been doing commendable work in maintaining India’s external security,” Singh said on X.
“Under the inspiring leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi the MoD will further strengthen domestic defence manufacturing and boost exports to unprecedented highs,” he said.
Separately, the defence ministry said under Singh’s leadership, it will “march ahead with renewed vigour with the aim to realise the prime minister’s vision of making the country ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047”.
“The focus will be on attaining self-reliance in defence, further modernising the Armed Forces, innovation in cutting-edge technology, strengthening border infrastructure, and ensuring ex-servicemen welfare, among others,” it said.
With inputs from agencies