India’s military equipment exports have increased 30-fold in the last 10 years. India’s military exports rose by around 78 per cent in the first three months of the 2024-2025 financial year, according to the Defense Department. A news package about it.
Many countries are allocating more funds to the military sector when there is an international war situation like Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas war.
From developed countries to developing countries are modernizing their military forces. Due to this every country has increased requirements of military logistics and sophisticated weapons.
In this context, the Union government led by Prime Minister Modi has set an export target of Rs 35,000 crore for the space and military sector over five years. Accordingly, by 2025, a plan is being implemented to generate revenue of 1.75 lakh crore rupees through the production of military equipment.
India exports a large number of military equipment such as ammunition, guns and bullet proof clothing and advanced head armor, military electronics, armored vehicles, light turbo engines, drones and fast attack vehicles.
Myanmar has been buying military equipment from India for a long time. However, now, Israel and Armenia have started buying Indian military equipment.
Israel imports drones, ammunition and small arms from India. The Philippines has also purchased indigenously produced Bramos missiles from India.
The US is the largest importer of Indian defense products. It accounts for about 50 percent of India’s total exports of defense products.
In 2016, US-based major Boeing and the Tata Group launched Tata Boeing Aerospace Ltd (TBAL) in Hyderabad with an area of 14,000 square meters.
The company manufactures structures for the Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters. The main engines, wings or non-tail parts for this type of helicopter are manufactured in India.
More than 200 helicopters have been produced so far. Also, the company has exported other components for Boeing 737 family aircraft.
Apart from Tata, Bangalore-based Dynamic Technologies and Rossel Texis, SASMOS HET Technologies also manufacture and export a large number of military spare parts.
State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) also manufacture defense electronics for export.
Another major US defense company is Lockheed Martin. The company has also partnered with Tata to produce more than 200 aircraft tailpieces for the C-130J transport aircraft.
The company is also the world’s only manufacturer of S-92 helicopter cabin components and has exported 157 cabins so far.
US imports not only fighter jet wings but also many military equipment and spare parts from India.
Companies like India’s Mahindra and Kalyani export artillery guns to Armenia.
Bengaluru-based Ti Indo-MIM is one of the leading manufacturers of MIM molding spare parts. Spare parts are exported to more than 50 countries in America, Europe and Asia.
Indian PSUs are also leading exporters of various rockets, artillery shells and other munitions.
In particular, the Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) has set a record by exporting ammunition and explosives worth Rs 1,726 crore last year alone.
In recent times, countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific have been upgrading their militaries. As Western countries’ military equipment is very expensive, these countries buy cheap quality products from India. In particular, India has been manufacturing and supplying fast patrol vessels to these countries.
India’s defense exports are predicted to increase further in the coming years.
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