INDIAN BLITZKRIEG ON THE WORLD STAGE FOR DEFENCE EXPORTS
India has been depending to a large extent on the defence imports to equip, maintain and sustain its defence forces; be it Army , Navy or Air force. To meet this requirement, the country has been posting defence attaches from all the three services to different countries who can help in defence imports for the country by becoming an effective link in addition to their other tasks in the charter curated and crafted for them.
India has become one of the largest defence importers in the world which is validated by recent SIPRI report wherein it accounted for buying of close to 11 percent of world defence exports and that too at a time wherein it has been focusing on the indigenisation of the defence equipment. This phenomena could be transitional as India is currently also facing not only collusive threat from China and Pakistan but a resurgent threat from China since the time it transgressed at multiple locations on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Eastern Ladakh in Apr-May 2020 and its adversarial actions are continuing in some way or the other. The recent surge in the defence imports may be attributed to an operational need arising due to current situation on the LAC but it is likely to be reverted wherein on one hand. The imports will reduce due to renewed focus on the indigenisation drive while on the other hand, India will start climbing on the ladder of defence exports slowly but steadily. Towards this, India has initiated multiple steps to include industry friendly policies to facilitate defence exports that too a target linked approach which is tough and ambitious but is still being largely achieved.
In addition to the above actions, India has decided to go global in a big way for the defence exports with special focus on Indo-Pacific as well as African continent which was quite evident from latest international defence expo held in Gujarat this year. The country has now adopted a renewed strategy wherein it increased No of defence attaches two years back and in a recent development, the charter of these defence attaches is being overhauled wherein they will now be instructed to focus on ‘defence exports’ as against their conventional charter of ‘defence imports’. This renewed charter not only bodes well for the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in India but also large No of private businesses who have the intent and capacity but have been looking for the facilitation of a government entity. This critical need will be institutionally filled by the renewed charter of the defence attaches. In addition to the defence exports of the new equipment, these persons can be also acting as a catalyst for establishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in those countries with Indians providing the nucleus support to train the personnel of the host nations. In addition, they can also facilitate the MRO support for the defence equipment of the host nation in India as well as in the host countries based on the complexity and economic viability.
The decision of the government is not only restricted to amendment in the charter but for being effective, it focuses on re-deployment of these resources wherein more focus and weightage is being given towards those countries wherein India is having export potential so that India going global becomes a reality. The changing geo-political realities to include Russia-Ukraine war, the detente between USA led NATO & Russia, the growing animosity between USA &China, Chinese actions on Indian borders to include continued transgressions on the LAC in Eastern Ladakh as well as increased conflict possibilities in Indo-Pacific are some of the reasons wherein india has to increase its defence production not only to meet its own requirement but also needs to export the same to other friendly countries in the world. The rise in exports especially in the field of defence equipment and warlike stores will not only be an effective tool of military diplomacy but will give a substantial boost to our defence manufacturing industry as well. In the process, the buyer countries are likely to be more aligned to Indian viewpoints in the regional as well as international groupings as and when the need arises.
This decision alone is , however, not a solution to this challenge in totality. There are some countries where liaison officers nhave been placed by PSUs besides there are Indian Army training teams functioning in certain countries. The large defence manufactures are also establishing/ contemplating to establish their footholds in those countries where they are expecting good business. In addition to fresh orientation given to the DAs, a whole of nation approach is needed wherein all these entities are synergised to achieve the national focus in the host nation. The overlaps have to be diminished and the highest standard of the quality control has to be exercised for making the ‘Brand India’ globally acceptable.
In addition to focussing on the defence exports, the synergised approach can look into the re-appraisal of the defence needs of the host country, suggest an equipping pattern as well as MRO support to keep the exported defence equipment serviceable and mission reliable always and every time. The documentation and training support can also be extended. There should be no difference to the support being provided whether the Indian exporter is a PSU entity or a private entity. It is certain that with renewed orientation of DAs the world over, India will not only announce its arrival on the world stage but will stay there for times to come.
This article has been first published by the author in Eurasian times.
