India approves 156 defence equipment for export
05 Feb 2021
India on Thursday approved the export of 156 defence equipment, including Astra missiles and Tejas indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, artillery guns, explosive, tanks and missiles, anti-tank mines and others, worth an estimated Rs35,000 crore, as the government is looking at enhancing defence exports to friendly countries.
The export list also includes 19 aeronautical systems, 16 nuclear-biological-chemical equipment, 41 armament and combat systems, 28 naval systems, 27 electronic and communication systems, 10 life protection items, four missile systems, four micro-electronic devices and seven other material.
Defence Research Development Organisation (DRD0) released the extended list, which now includes even Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile Astra, anti-tank guided missile Nag and Brahmos weapon system.
Earlier, it was the Akash missile that was given clearance for export.
Akash is a surface-to-air missile system that provides short-range air defence and can operate in autonomous or group modes of operation with a range of three to 25 km.
The Astra missile is a beyond-visual air-to-air system integrated with Indian Air Force's Su30 MKI. In times to come, other Indian fighter jets will also be integrated with the Astra.
Brahmos is a supersonic missile intended for use by the Army, Navy and Air Force. This universal missile can be launched from ships, mobile launchers, submarines and aircraft.
The government is now looking at enhancing its defence exports, aiming to record export of defence equipment worth Rs35,000 crore ($5 billion) by 2025, as per the Defence Production Export Promotion Policy 2020.
The new policy aims at enhancing exports and building a domestic defence industry for self-reliance, and targets a turnover of Rs1,75,000 crore ($25 billion dollars) by 2025.
The policy also looks at doubling the domestic procurement from the Indian industry.