According to a report by ‘The Times of India’, India’s top defence export destinations are the US, France, and Armenia, with Armenia being the largest buyer of ‘finished’ Indian defence products. These ‘finished’ Indian weapons and equipment include 155mm artillery guns, Akash air defence missile and Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems, said the report.
India’s defence exports reached an all-time high of Rs 21,083 crore ($2.63 billion) in FY24, marking a 32.5% increase from the previous year’s total of Rs 15,920 crore. Indian defence companies, both public and private, are exporting defence equipment to approximately 100 nations worldwide, said the report. India’s defence exports comprise a diverse portfolio of military equipment, including arms, ammunition, and fuses.
Indian defence companies are also exporting complete weapon systems, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, artillery guns, Dornier-228 aircraft, radars, Akash air defence missiles, Pinaka rockets, and armoured vehicles.
Indian Defence Exports: Different Countries With Different Preferences
India’s defence exports to the US primarily consist of aircraft and helicopter components, such as fuselage and wings, supplied to prominent defence contractors like Boeing and Lockheed Martin, said the report.
Although the report lacked specific details, it claimed that India is supplying significant amounts of software and electronic equipment to France’s defence sector.
Armenia, has finalized multiple defence agreements with India over the past four years. The country is acquiring ‘finished’ systems such as artillery guns, weapon-locating radars, missiles, and rocket systems, along with protective gear like bullet-proof vests and night-vision equipment.
As part of the $2 billion defence partnership established in 2020, Armenia has reportedly acquired or is in the process of acquiring Indian-made weapon systems, including the Akash-1S air defence system. Armenia is also the first foreign consumer for the indigenously-developed Akash Air Defence Missiles, said the report.
It is worth noting that following India’s successful $375-million deal with the Philippines in 2022 for BrahMos anti-ship coastal missile batteries, other ASEAN nations and Gulf countries have expressed growing interest in acquiring this Indo-Russian joint venture missile system, according to the ‘The Times of India’.
