In a major push to the local Defence industry as part of its ‘Make in India’ policy, the Government plans to export weapon systems worth over Rs 13,000 crore (USD two billion) by the end of 2019 from the present figure of nearly Rs 2,060 crore. At least 16 to 17 countries have evinced interest in Indian systems like Brahmos, Akash and Astra missiles apart from howitzer guns.
Disclosing this policy decision, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said here on Tuesday that India was keen to sell weapons systems to friendly countries and Vietnam, UAE and Mauritius figured in this list. Moreover, the Ministry is pushing private and public sector defence undertakings to promote products like bridge laying machines, he maintained.
An independent export promotion body will help the Indian industry to achieve the target of two billion US dollars by 2019, the Minister said in a Press conference, adding the Government will initially hold the export panel’s hand and later it will be self-sustaining body.
Maintaining that export never got priority in the past, he said the present regime was determined to give a fillip to promote ‘Make in India’ products through exports and managed to touch the Rs 2,060 crore mark for the current fiscal year from Rs 1,100 crore two years back.
India was already exporting ships and off shore patrol vessels manufactured by some private players and the defence ministry wanted the industry to aggressively explore the possibilities in the ship building sector, Parrikar said.
Countries like Vietnam had already shown interest in buying the indigenously designed and manufactured Brahmos supersonic missile capable of hitting a target at 290km. Asked if the deal was in the offing, Parrikar refrained from giving a direct reply and said “Vietnam is a friendly country.” He added that India was training Vietnam pilots for SU-30 fighter jet flying and helping that country in capacity building. Replying to another question if India was considering supplying arms to Afghanistan, Parrikar said if is a sensitive issue but added “Afghanistan is a friend.”
Elaborating upon various facets of exports, the minister said the Government was already holding dialogue with friendly countries to help them upgrading their weapon systems by Indian industries adding some countries were also ready to buy locally made self-propelled tracked artillery gun manufactured by a private company.
On setting up another production line for single engine fighter jets, Parrikar said a decision will be taken once the Strategic Partnership clause for producing weapons is finalized in the next few months. This partnership entails selecting a foreign equipment manufacturer who will forge a joint venture with an Indian company to build strategic systems like fighter jets and warships.