India eyes defence export market with radars

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 12

India, the largest importer of weapons and military equipment in the world, is on the verge of increasing its exports and looking at indigenously produced electronic surveillance systems and airborne radars as a lead option.

Several countries have shown interest and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is ready to work at the systems and radars. It will try to match China, which figures among the top five exporters of weapons and military equipment.

DRDO’s Director General and Secretary (Defence Research) Dr S Christopher said: “We have the potential to export. There is scope for surveillance systems. It is very much within our limits to export the equipment”. He was appointed to head the DRDO on May 28 this year.

Dr Christopher, who has been associated with indigenously developed airborne early warning systems (AEWS), said South American countries and even a country in south-east Asia were interested in radars mounted on planes to capture images from deep inside enemy territory.

“We must change the notion that we do not have a potential to export. The present government is very positive and supporting us”, he said. “We have to now see which countries we could sell the equipment. The export versions have to be of ultimate quality with some sensitive elements,” Dr Christopher said.

In March this year, the Sweden-based think-tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in its assessment for 2010-2014 titled ‘Trends in international arms transfers’, said India had emerged as the world’s largest buyer of weapons and military equipment, accounting for some 15% of all such international imports.

According to the SIPRI report, China is the third largest importer and also the exporter of weapons ahead of traditional manufacturers Germany, France and UK. Its biggest benefactors are Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma — all having a shared boundary with India — accounted for 68% of Beijing’s exports.

Since 2011, India has exported defence equipment to the tune of Rs 1,812 crore. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had informed Parliament in November 2014.