Defense Ministry of India clears 156 indigenous military equipment for export: Report

According to a list released by Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), there are 19 aeronautical systems, 41 armaments, and combat systems, 4 missile systems, 27 electronic and communication system, 10 life protection items, 4 microelectronic devices, 28 naval systems, 16 Nuclear Biological Chemical equipment NBC and 7 other materials that have been cleared for export to outside countries.

Although Tejas has been the star attraction of Indian indigenous firepower, Indian-made missiles are also ready for export now. Earlier it was the Akash missile that was given clearance for exports but now other missiles have also been added to the list

Indian Missiles cleared for export: Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air Missile Astra, anti-tank guided missile Nag and Brahmos weapon systems are also ready for exports, a list released by DRDO showed.

Akash is a surface-to-air missile system that provides short-range air defense and can operate in autonomous or group mode of operation with a range of 3 to 25 km. The Astra missile is a BVR air-to-air that has been integrated with Indian Air Forces Su30 MKI. Other fighter jets will also be integrated with the Astra in the future.

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Brahmos is a supersonic missile for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. This universal missile can be launched from ships, mobile launchers, submarines, and aircraft. It has network-centric architecture, multiple trajectories, way-point capability and is capable of engaging any kind of land or naval targets beyond the horizon in a minimum deployment time.

As for Battle Tanks, the Indian Army’s battle tank Arjun Mark-1A, an upgraded version that offers superior firepower, high mobility, and can fire a variety of ammunition, can also be sold to other countries.

The Pinaka weapon system is also on the list. Pinaka is an all-weather, indirect fire, free-flight artillery multi-barrel rocket system. It can fire 72 rockets in 44 seconds. It delivers a  lethal and responsive fire against a variety of area targets such as exposed enemy troops, armored and soft skin vehicles, communication centers, air terminal complexes, fuel and ammunition dumps.

In addition to this, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) has also been cleared for export. ATAGS is a large-caliber artillery gun system configured with an all-electric drive. It is a 155 mm, 52-caliber artillery gun with a range of 48 km. It has better accuracy, advanced fire control system, extended range, and multiple round simultaneous impact capability with surveillance and sighting systems onboard.

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Future export targets of India: India is now looking at enhancing its defense exports — targeting $5 billion of all defense exports — to improve strategic relations with friendly foreign countries. The nation aims to achieve exporting defense equipment worth Rs.35,000 crore by 2025, as per the defense production export promotion policy 2020.

Aimed at enhancing exports and build a domestic defense industry for self-reliance, the policy targets a turnover of Rs 1,75,000 crore ($25 billion). The policy also looks at doubling domestic procurement from the Indian industry.

The share of domestic procurement in overall defense procurement is about 60 percent. In order to enhance procurement from domestic industry, it is incumbent that procurement is doubled from the current Rs 70,000 crore to Rs 1,40,000 crore by 2025.