Visakhapatnam: India has always been import dependent for defence equipment. However, breaking the pattern, the Defence Research and Development Organisation, is ready to export naval defence products worth Rs 1,000 crore to Asian countries.
India’s defence imports are 40 times more than exports. Three sets of sonar systems were recently exported to Myanmar and DRDO will also be exporting “export versions” of sonars, decoy systems and underwater weapon systems - torpedoes to countries like Vietnam, Myanmar and Philippines.
According to defence minister Manohar Parrikar, defence exports stood at Rs 669.88 crore in 2014-15. Around 65 per cent of Indian defence needs are met by imports. The ministry had recently notified a new strategy for export of defence products and had also listed 16 broad categories of items that could be exported to other nations. These items included military training equipment, electronic warfare devices, software, bombs etc.
