Export of defence equipment nearly Rs 3,000 crore over last 3 years

The total revenue from the export of defence platforms, equipments and spares by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) over the last three years and current year till June 2016 is Rs 2,972.96 crore.

However, India's export of defence equipment has been declining.

In 2013-14 the exports were at Rs 503.91 crore and doubled to Rs 1,120.44 crore in 2014-15. Defence exports however declined to Rs 962.58 crore in 2015-16. In the span of three months since the start of 2016-17 defence exports are at Rs 386.03 crore.

The decline in the defence exports from India is reflected by the countries which have recorded the highest defence imports from India. While Russia was the highest importer of defence equipment from India in 2013-14 at Rs 158.84 crore, the exports to Mauritius were the highest at Rs 408.76 crore in 2014-15. In 2015-16 exports to Israel were the highest at Rs 161.14 crore.

In the current year 2016-17 the highest exports of defence equipment is to Sri Lanka, closely followed by Mauritius at Rs 144.32 crore and Rs 136.93 crore, respectively.

Some of the major defence equipments exported by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and Ordnance Factories (OFs) are Patrol Vessels, Helicopters and their spares, Sonars and Radars, Avionics, Radar Warning Receivers (RWR), Small Arms, Small Caliber Ammunition, Grenades, Telecommunication equipments etc, said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

To encourage export, DPSUs have been permitted to export upto 10% of their annual production. For items, where there is a capacity constraint, if DPSUs export, they would be required to ramp up their capacity accordingly in subsequent year.