INDIAN DEFENCE - IMPORTS VS EXPORTS

Indian Defence Forces are known for their bravery, professionalism as well for discipline way of conduct in times of peace and war with Standing the total number of active personal 1,444,500 (2nd) and 2,100,000(3rd) in reserve. With such active validation of strong military strength, the Indian military never initiated its military power on their neighbouring countries.

• Indian Army Ranks 1st in terms of active servicemen, likewise Indian Airforce at 4th and Indian Navy at 7th, which makes a point that Indian youth are keen to join Military Services.
• When it comes to ASIAN pacific IDF (Indian Defence Forces), do have Major leadership as well as tactical experience since 1947.
• The quality of IDF leadership is not only on the war front; its do come in play during peace and rescue operations irrespective of individuals nationality.   

Indian Defence Budget

India spends roughly around 2.4% of its GDP on the defence budget, in budget 2020-21 Union government allocated US$65.86billion as the defence the budget which was a slight increment of 5.8 %2014-2018

China spends nearly 2% (keep GDP in mind) whereas Pakistan spends nearly 18 % of its GDP On its military. 

All three services have got a hike in their 2020-21 modernisation budget, with the overall increase being 11 per cent or 9,227crore. However, in comparison to the revised budget of 2019-20, the increase is a mere 255crore. The meagre increase vis-à-vis revised allocation looks grossly under-provisioned in view of the vast shortages existing in capital procurement.

Modernisation Budget of Indian Armed Forces

Indian Defence Imports

• In years of 2014-2018, India took runner position in arms imports next to KSA nearly 9.5%of global total as per (SIPRI) stock international peace research institute.
• RUSSIA stands top for our defence arsenal even though we are trying our looks towards westernmost in recent, INDIA accounted for 25% OF total arms exports of RUSSIA. RUSSIA was the largest suppliers to INDIAS well over the decades from 2010 till 2019 
• (due to its past agreement since early 2ks or end of the 90s) , but deliveries fell by 47 per cent, and its share of total INDIAN arms imports went from 72 to 56 per cent.
• The USA is rapidly increasing its arms sales to India, emerging over the last five years as its second-biggest supplier by providing 15 per cent of its weapons imports, a study by Sipri said. Washington increased its sales by more than five times compared to the previous five years; likewise, ISRAEL moved to 3rd position.

Real-Time Post Galwan Episode  

• Indo-Sino relations is under jeopardy post-Galway valley episode was 20 INDIAN soldiers were killed (VEER GATI) and losses from CHINES side too which they declined to disclose
• DAC (Defence Acquisition Council) sanction the procurement of arms of worth deal $5.5billion, including domestic efforts worth $4.4. DAC is an apex body that falls under MOD. 

AirPower Flexing

• Under this INDIA will upgrade its 59 of its MIG-29 and 21 to buy from RUSSIA in the emergency purchase, keeping the module of 
• Atmanirbhar Bharat – IAF ordered 12RUSSIAN-made. SU-30MKI fighter from indigenous state-owned company HAL for worth $1.53 billion, GOI has given green signal to the army to buy indigenously developed program including ammunition for MBRL (Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher ), upgrades in BMP-2 INFANTRY VEHICLES, NIRBHAY land-attack cruise missile and Astra BVR (Beyond Visual Range) Missile.

India’s Rafale fighter jets

(Image Credits– DASSAULT AVIATION)

• Amid border tensions with China in eastern Ladakh, the Indian Air Force’s first five Rafale warplanes on Monday took off from Mérignac in France and will reach their home base in Ambala on July 29 after a one-day stopover at the Al Dhafra airbase near Abu Dhabi. With a total of 5 fighter plane, two are twin seated, and three are single seated. 
• India ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in the year 2016 of worth deal 59000cr as emergency purchase.
• The Rafales will be a part of the IAF’s No. 17 Squadron, which is also known as the ‘Golden Arrows.’ The aircrew bringing the Rafales to India is headed by Group Captain Harkirat Singh, a decorated fighter pilot, who is the commanding officer of the No.17 Squadron.

Indian Defence Exports

(Image Credits– Zee News)

According to the latest official data are given in the upper house of Indian Parliament - the Rajya Sabha, India's defence export has jumped by 700% in just two years.

• India's biggest clients are Myanmar, which accounts for 46% of exports, Sri Lanka at 25% and Mauritius at 14%. As reported by ET, India has a target to increase its defence exports to $ 5 billion within five years. 
• India ranks 23rd in arms exports overall in the world.
• Pvt sector beneficiaries of the export orders as per the data by the department of defence production. Their exports have increased from just Rs 194.35 in FY 2016-17 to over Rs 8013.65 in fiscal 2019-20. On the other hand, export by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)/Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has come down from Rs 1327.51 in FY 2016-17 to just Rs 403.94 in fiscal 2019-20.

Industrial Licensing - Industrial licensing regime for Indian manufacturers in the defence sector, has been liberalized. The total number of defence licences issued has more than doubled from 215 as on March 31, 2014, to 460 till December 31, 2019, covering a total of 275 companies

FDI - The total number of defence licences issued has more than doubled from 215 as on March 31, 2014, to 460 till December 31, 2019, covering a total of 275 companies 

Defence Procurement Procedure-  This was revised in 2016. Specific provisions have been introduced for stimulating the growth of the domestic defence industry. 

IDDM – Indeginiously Designed Development and Manufactured has been introduced in the year 2016

Buy & Make in India – GOI in the last three years, i.e. from 2016-17 to 2018-19 and current year till December 2019, has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to 138 proposals worth Rs.2,69,465.26crore approximately, under these categories of Capital Procurement which promote domestic manufacturing as per DPP-2016.

Defence Corridors – Two defence corridors is under the scanner (in the making), They span across Chennai, Hosur, Coimbatore, Salem and Tiruchirappalli in and Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, Kanpur, Chitrakoot and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Department of Defence Production has notified 127 items under Public Procurement Order 2017 notified by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade 

Testing Facilities

• Defence Ministry has instituted a new framework titled ‘Mission RakshaGyan Shakti’ which aims to provide a boost to the IPR culture in the indigenous defence industry. The Test facilities/infrastructure available with various Government agencies (OFB, DPSUs, DRDO, DGQA, DGAQA & SHQs) have been made available to the private sector to assist them in the design and development of defence systems.

• New Delhi is now exploring the defence deals with Indonesia and Vietnam to sell its Indo-Russian missile, Brahmos. India has earlier contracted to sell coastal defence radars and marine-grade steel to Indonesia and to service the Russian-made Su-30 combat jets flown by the Indonesian air force.

Arms Ammunition Diplomacy

• Defence deal is not just for procurement of weapons it's for better alliance too Transfer of technology is one of the critical things to be remember  Getting offset partnership will improve the technical understanding between the two countries. 
• The cold war dynamics of the time, the USSR stepped in and eventually, the Indian armoury was full of Russian weapon, even today, Russia is significant strategic partners and biggest arms suppliers.
• USA president recent visit to India, both the countries signed a deal of 3billion dollar defence deal. The deal consists of 6boeing ah-64apache guardian attack helicopter for amry,24sikorsky mh-60r  seahawk multi-role helicopter for the navy.
• Defence deal is also for strategic development between two nations too critical part of defensive offence
• India is always opened for two front conflicts or war, thanks to beloved neighbours one at the east one at the west
• The budget is not up to marks as it is required for a nation who’s enemies are at the gate

Make in India – self-dependency need to improve on high speed not to wait till we face some grave episodes Defence pensions can be combined with regular central govt pensioners, such that military can concentrate on defence-related affairs.

• However, a separate veterans affairs can be managed by the military like USA Though we are moving towards the west in terms of soft alliance we should keep Russian alive in us  Defence budgets needed to grow in good numbers because marginal increments will keep future projects in the icebox  Improvement in defence will help in education as well, growth of employment too.
• At least 3% of our GDP needs to be spent on defence alone something sounds good but doesn't act good focus on the eastern front other than western; it is well, known west will be under control; however, east will play a critical role. Presence of talent none can deny talent likewise need to be respected.

Conclusion

Being the world’s largest democracy and core believer of peace and growth, we need to be ready around the year without giving benefits of doubts to our two-sided neighbours; it’s nothing wrong to keep our defence arsenal action ready.