This significant growth has been partly driven by Armenia, which in recent years has signed contracts with India to acquire a wide range of weapon systems, with a total value in the billions of dollars.
The Reasons Behind India’s Arms Export “Breakthrough”
A representative of the Ministry of Defense highlighted that just a few years ago, the idea of selling arms to Armenia seemed “absolutely unthinkable” to the department.
According to Indian media, as of today, Delhi exports defense industry products to more than 90 countries worldwide. The range of goods exported is quite extensive, including small arms, artillery systems, armored vehicles, and hypersonic missiles. It is noted that recent sales growth has been significantly influenced by the war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Amid such favorable conditions, the Indian government has simplified the issuance of export licenses for defense companies, opened more accessible credit lines for them, and used diplomatic leverage to create new opportunities for arms exports. According to the Ministry of Defense, exports grew by an incredible 78 percent in the first quarter of this year, bringing in $2.63 billion to the Indian treasury for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
Experts have noted the remarkable situation where India, which just a few years ago was actively purchasing weapons from abroad, including from Russia, has now emerged as one of the world’s leading arms exporters.
In 2020, the government of Narendra Modi announced an ambitious goal to increase arms exports to $5 billion annually by 2025, tasking the country’s defense industry with producing $25 billion worth of products each year.
What Weapons Does India Export?
Although the Ministry of Defense does not disclose details, the local publication ThePrint, citing numerous sources in government, industry, and diplomatic circles, reports that the range of India’s defense products is quite diverse. It includes ammunition, small arms (including sniper rifles and specialized targeting systems), bulletproof vests and helmets, electronic devices, armored vehicles, light torpedoes, simulators, drones, and high-speed strike boats.
Among smaller countries, Myanmar has traditionally been a major market for India’s defense exports (mainly various types of explosives and ammunition), and in recent years, Israel and Armenia have joined this list.
Israel imports certain targeting systems, small arms manufactured in India by subsidiaries of Israeli companies, explosives, ammunition, and specific components and parts for combat drones.
In addition, India has signed several major deals for the supply of BrahMos hypersonic missiles to the Philippines and artillery systems and air defense systems to Armenia.
Overall, the largest importer of Indian defense products is the United States, accounting for nearly half of India’s exports. This is primarily because American companies annually purchase more than a billion dollars’ worth of systems, subsystems, and components from India for the global supply chain, fulfilling their own offset obligations.
It is also worth noting that Indian arms exports are conducted not only by state-owned companies but also by private enterprises engaged in the defense industry. For example, contracts for the sale of artillery systems to Armenia were concluded by companies such as Mahindra and Kalyani Group.
In an interview with ThePrint, retired Indian Army General H.S. Pang noted that this significant growth in arms exports represents a “strategic shift” for India.
“In 2013-2014, our arms exports amounted to only $110 million,” the retired general recalled. “Back then, arms were sold without any strategy, and getting an export license was incredibly difficult. But in 2014, the government of Narendra Modi developed a strategy that stimulated exports, and today we are seeing the results.”
ThePrint cites an official representative of India’s Ministry of Defense, stating:
“Just a few years ago, no one could have imagined selling BrahMos missiles to the Philippines or signing numerous deals with Armenia.”
The publication notes that after the Philippines, Armenia could become the second buyer of BrahMos missiles, according to sources close to India’s Ministry of Defense.
For comparison: while the Pralay quasi-ballistic missiles, which Armenia is negotiating to purchase, have a range of about 500 kilometers, the BrahMos hypersonic missiles can hit targets at distances of up to 1,000 kilometers.
Yerevan’s desire to acquire these missiles indicates its efforts to restore the military balance in the region. The acceleration of Armenia’s rearmament, supported by India, France, and recently the United States, significantly increases the risk of a new regional conflict, pushing official Baku towards preventive military measures against Armenia to prevent new threats to Azerbaijani territories.
Ilkin Shafiyev
Translated from haqqin.az
