Over the past few years, the Indian government has trained its guns on making the country a hub for defence exports. After the success of the supersonic BrahMos missiles and its subsequent export to friendly countries which greatly spooked China, India is now readying the export of its surface to air Akash missiles.
In a significant development, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved the export of surface to air Akash missiles to friendly foreign countries. It is pertinent to note that the Akash’s Russian counterpart S-400 surface to air missiles aren’t sanctioned free as, despite Trump’s cordial relations with Erdogan, Turkey was recently slapped with American suctions after it purchased the S-400 missiles from Russia, thereby increasing the demand for Akash.
Such is the focus on defence exports that a high-powered panel has been set up for swifter approval of military hardware export with the goal of clocking defence exports worth $5 billion by 2024, reported Hindustan Times. The panel will consist of the defence minister, external affairs minister and the national security adviser.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said, “So far, Indian defence exports included parts/components etc. The export of big platforms was minimal. This initiative of the Cabinet would help the country to improve its defence products and make them globally competitive.”
In what will give sleepless nights to Chinese President Xi Jinping, ThePrint reports that a dozen foreign countries, including the UAE, Vietnam and the Philippines, have shown interest in acquiring the Akash system.
In a matter of great pride for India, Akash has indigenous content of 96% and has a range of 25 km, was subsequently inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2014 and in the army a year later.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to Twitter to say, “The Government of India intends to focus on exporting high-value defence platforms to achieve a target of 5 Billion USD of defence export and improve strategic relations with friendly foreign countries.”
Former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General BS Jaswal (retd), said, “India has already demonstrated its potential to manufacture defence equipment for exports. We are exporting a wide range of military hardware. The Cabinet approval for Akash export along with the setting up of the committee will boost our vision of becoming Atmanirbhar in the defence sector. It will also enhance India’s stature in the global market as a weapons exporter.”
In a positive development, India’s defence equipment exports stood at Rs 10,745 crore in 2018-19 — seven times time more than the exports figure of 2016-17.
The one-of-a-kind BrahMos missiles which have been jointly developed by India and Russia had generated a lot of interest from various countries mainly due to the fact that the short-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile can be launched from aircraft, land, submarines or ships.
Earlier in August, it had been reported that BrahMos missiles appear in the list of military items readied by the Ministry of Defence which can be exported to other countries.
“After fulfilling the requirements of the Indian armed forces, BrahMos missile can be exported to third countries,” quoted sources speaking to Financial Times.
It is important to note that the issue of exporting the missiles to a third country has to be decided jointly by India and Russia. The development effectively means that Russia has given a go-ahead to export the supersonic missiles thus proving that Russia-China ties are not as close as it seems with Russia increasingly favouring India over China.
Read More: As China exports warships to Pakistan, India gets ready to sell BrahMos to China’s rivals
Several South American countries have shown a keen interest in purchasing the BrahMos missiles. Talks with Vietnam and Indonesia are at an advanced stage with the Philippines and the UAE also registering their interest.
“There are discussions going on a range of weapons systems between India and the Philippines. Once travel becomes possible, the joint committee that looks at defence logistics will meet discuss these things,” said India’s ambassador to the Philippines Jaideep Majumdar earlier in May. Both the countries have had price negotiations over the sale of the missiles. India has even offered a $100 million line of credit to the Philippines for defence purchase.
The commonality between the Philippines and Vietnam is the fact that both the countries are engaged in tense face-off with China at the South China Sea and the BrahMos missiles which can be launched from ships, will give the countries an edge against China and its expansionist activities.
India is fast becoming a vital cog in any efforts to check and counter China’s dominance in the region and the defence exports are a proof of the marvel of Indian engineering which will not only increase the country’s goodwill amongst the friendly nations but will also increase India’s ever-growing soft power.
