by Garima Satija

India has spent USD 100 billion in last one decade to buy 65 per cent of its defence equipment and unless the government works towards a goal of producing military equipment within the country, the cost of acquiring the weapons cannot be reduced drastically.

Now keeping this in mind, the government will come out with a major policy next month outlining a roadmap to build a robust defence production industry with an objective to make India one of the top five producers of the military equipment globally. 

According to PTI, the Defence Production Policy (DPP-2018) will lay focus on investing adequate resources to develop critical technology for manufacturing defence equipment including fighter jets, attack helicopters and weaponry. 

According to the draft policy, the government aims to achieve a turnover of Rs 1,70,000 crore in military goods and services by 2025.

The Largest Buyer of Arms

India has spent USD 100 billion on imports of arms and military equipment in last decade, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute report came out in March. Indian import of weapons account for 12 per cent of the global arms trade which makes it the largest buyers. According to SIPRI report, India’s arm import has increased by 24 per cent in the last five years with imports from the US increased by a massive 557 per cent in the period 2013-2017 as compared to period 2008-2012.

India Has Inked Defence Pact Worth Rs 2.40 Lakh Crore 

According to the official figures, India has 187 contracts worth Rs 2.40 crore with foreign and domestic firms for military equipment in last four years, however, the projects are yet to take off due to the procedural bottlenecks.

Apart from cutting imports, India eye to export equipment worth Rs 35,000 crore

The draft policy released in March, which is likely to become the major part of the bill listed the export of Rs 35,000 crores in military equipments and services by 2025. India currently exports small weapons and missiles to neighbouring and friendly countries. India is in talks to export Akash missile to friendly ASEAN countries.

Tejas, BrahMos, Arjun etc Are Produced In India

Despite criticism for the late arrival of Tejas- the Light Combat Aircraft and failure to make an assault rifle to replace the ageing INSAS, India has significantly produced some world class arms. BrahMos-the supersonic missile jointly developed by India and Russia is by far the best missile in the world in the category. 

Akash missile, Pinaka-the multiple rocket launchers, battle tank Arjun, and Nag missile are some of the most successful weapons India has produced over the years.