New Delhi: India’s defence exports, which have reached an all-time excessive of Rs 15,920 crore within the monetary yr 2022-23, embody the sale of the indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), the defence ministry has introduced.

The roughly Rs 16,000 crore-worth exports have been virtually Rs 3,000 crore greater than the earlier monetary yr. It has risen over 10 instances since 2016-17, the defence ministry mentioned.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the achievement as a transparent manifestation of India’s expertise, saying, “It also shows the reforms in this sector over the last few years are delivering good results. Our government will keep supporting efforts to make India a defence production hub”.

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Excellent! A transparent manifestation of India’s expertise and the keenness in direction of ‘Make in India.’ It additionally exhibits the reforms on this sector over the previous few years are delivering good outcomes. Our Government will maintain supporting efforts to make India a defence manufacturing hub. https://t.co/AL3sLknFOL

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 1, 2023

Calling it a a outstanding achievement for the nation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a tweet mentioned, “Our defence exports will continue to grow exponentially.”

While it was reported that the exports this fiscal will likely be at an all-time excessive, the sale of ATAGS, which is but to be inducted into the Indian Army, is a revelation.

While the defence ministry remained mum on which nation purchased the 155mm ATAGS gun system — which has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, in collaboration with the Kalyani Group and TATA — although sources indicated that it could possibly be Armenia.

Earlier, it was speculated that Armenia had purchased the mounted gun system for itself from the Kalyani Group.

However, the assertion by the defence ministry Saturday didn’t point out the mounted gun system. 

“India, which was known as an importer about eight years ago, exports major platforms like Dornier-228, 155 mm Advanced Towed Artillery Guns (ATAGs), Brahmos Missiles, Akash Missile System, Radars, Simulators, Mine Protected Vehicles, Armoured Vehicles, PINAKA Rockets & Launchers, Ammunitions, Thermal Imagers, Body Armours…”, the defence ministry assertion mentioned.

Incidentally, in an interview to ThePrint, Amit Kalyani, the scion of the Kalyani Group and deputy managing director at Bharat Forge, a part of Kalyani Group, had mentioned that India will grow to be the worldwide hub for manufacturing and export of artillery weapons.

It was simply final month that the defence ministry sanctioned the method to obtain 307 ATAGS for the Indian Army.

India is now exporting to over 85 international locations. Indian {industry} has proven its functionality of design and improvement to the world, with 100 companies exporting defence merchandise at current. 

The defence ministry highlighted that export procedures have been simplified and made industry-friendly with end-to-end on-line export authorisation curbing delays and bringing Ease of Doing Business.  

The authorities has notified three Open General Export Licences (OGEL) for export of Parts and Components/Transfer of Technology/Major Platforms and Equipment. 

OGEL is a one-time export licence that allows the {industry} to export specified objects to specified locations, enumerated within the OGEL, with out searching for export authorisation through the validity of the OGEL.

The Modi authorities had in 2020 set an bold goal of Rs 35,000 crore ($5 billion) export in aerospace, and defence items and providers for the subsequent 5 years. This was a part of the Rs 1.75 lakh crore ($25 billion) turnover in defence manufacturing that the federal government is aiming to realize by 2025. 

(Edited by Richa Mishra)

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