How India transitioned from defence importer to exporter

In FY 2022-23, the Ministry of Defence reported that defence exports soared to nearly Rs 16,000 crore, marking a substantial increase of nearly Rs 3,000 crore from the prior fiscal year. This surge signifies a remarkable tenfold rise since 2016-17, showcasing India's significant stride towards transforming from a net importer to a significant net exporter in the defence sector.

​The global market exhibited a rise in demand for Indian defence products like LCA-Tejas, light combat helicopters, and aircraft carriers, contributing significantly to the surge in exports. (Photo: PTI)

The 5.8-tonne twin-engine LCH comes fitted with the Shakti engine, jointly developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in partnership with French engine-maker Safran. Armed with 20mm turret guns, 70mm rocket systems, and air-to-air missiles, it boasts agility, maneuverability, extended range, high altitude performance, and all-weather combat capability. The helicopter incorporates numerous stealth features, armored-protection systems, night attack capability, and crash-worthy landing gear, enhancing its survivability in challenging conditions.

The Indian Air Force (IAF), known for its operational squadrons of the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas, has recently acquired the first Tejas twin-seater from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a defense PSU. This twin-seater variant of Tejas serves as a lightweight, all-weather, multi-role 4.5 generation aircraft primarily designed to meet the IAF's training needs. Additionally, it can seamlessly transition to a fighter aircraft role when required, enhancing its versatility and adaptability in various operational scenarios. (Photo: IANS)

Indian Air Force (IAF) got its first C-295 transport plane during a ceremony in Spain's Seville. The aircraft is capable of performing special missions as well as disaster response and maritime patrol duties. The IAF has signed a contract for 56 of these planes of which 16 will be made in Spain while the remaining 40 will be produced by the joint venture of Tata and Airbus in their facility in Vadodara, Gujarat. The C-295MW aircraft, boasting a 5-10 tonne capacity, is equipped to accommodate up to 71 troops or 49 para-troopers while maintaining a maximum cruise speed of 260 knots.

The government's strong focus on 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in defence, ongoing modernization of the Armed Forces, and Defence Ministry's initiatives aimed at bolstering border infrastructure, empowering women, and supporting Ex-Servicemen played pivotal roles in this growth.
The Defence Ministry introduced the Fifth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) featuring 98 items, intended to be sourced from indigenous channels under the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020. (Photo: PTI)

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan recently called the BrahMos missile system a ‘Brahmastra’ of its time. BrahMos started with 13% indigenous components and went on to become a 76% ‘Make in India’ missile system. Operating from submarines, ships, fighter aircraft, or TEL, it's a product of BrahMos Aerospace. It is said to be the world’s "fastest supersonic cruise missile." BrahMos Aerospace is in talks with a dozen countries for the export of this very potent weapon system.

The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a 155 mm/52 calibre towed howitzer under development for the Indian Army. It's a collaborative effort involving the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Tata Advanced Systems, and Kalyani Strategic Systems.

Capital Procurement Allocation: A record 75 per cent of the defence capital procurement budget, approximately Rs one lakh crore, was allocated for the domestic industry in FY 2023-24, marking a significant increase from the previous fiscal year's 68 per cent.

Budget Allocation Overview: The Ministry of Defence received a total budget allocation of Rs 5.94 lakh crore for FY 2023-24, constituting 13.18 per cent of the total budget. A substantial portion, Rs 1.63 lakh crore, was designated for modernisation and infrastructure development. (Photo: ANI)

The defence ministry accorded preliminary approval for military modernization projects worth Rs 7,965 crore under the 'Make in India' policy, which includes procurement of 12 light utility helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for around Rs 1,500 crore. The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) along with its derivative Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) was designed and developed by Rotary Wing Research and Design Center of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for civilian and military applications.

India’s first homemade carrier, INS Vikrant, joined the fleet last year and was built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. The country also has a Russia-made aircraft carrier. India plans to have 160 warships by 2030 and 175 by 2035 at an estimated cost of 2 trillion rupees, according to people familiar. The country is carrying out more warship patrols than ever before amid growing concerns over China’s rising naval prowess. India's getting a new carrier, which can hold at least 28 fighter jets and helicopters and displaces 45,000 tons of water soon.