New Delhi: The government of India on Thursday approved the export of 156 defence equipment to its friend nations. India will export indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Astra missile, Brahmos weapon system and other weapons.
The list was released by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and it will be helpful to improve the export of ‘Made in India’ weapons to other nations.
The export of 156 defence equipment 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 materials.
Earlier, the government of India has approved the export of Akash Missile which can hit the target in the range of 25 kilometers.
Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile Astra, anti-tank guided missile Nag and Brahmos weapon system are also approved by the government of India to export.
The Indian Air Force is also planning to integrate Astra missile with all fighter jets of India. Astra missile is now already integrated with Indian Air Force’s Su30 MKI fighter jets.
Bramos missile is one of the best supersonic missiles in the world and it is already used by the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. This universal missile can be launched from ships, mobile launchers, submarines and aircraft.
India is now looking to increase its defence export as per the Defence Production Export Promotion Policy 2020 and aims to record the export of defence equipment worth 35000 crore (USD 5 billion) by 2025.
The policy also looks at doubling the domestic procurement from the Indian industry.
Aimed at enhancing exports and building a domestic defence industry for self-reliance, the policy targets a turnover of Rs 1,75,000 crore (25 billion dollars).
_Vinayak.Barot
