India approves 156 defence equipment for export
- 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. Source: https://www.domain-b.com/
