Center approves export of Akash missiles, India currently sells arms to 42 countries

- World class weapons are made at home

New Delhi, 31 December 2020, Thursday

Many of the country's companies make world-class weapons. Now, under the idea of ​​a self-sufficient India, the central government had approved the export of Akash missiles. This is an important decision taken by the Center as the year 2020 is coming to an end.

Akash missiles are India's hallmark. 996 per cent of its components are completely indigenous. This missile can shoot the enemy from the air into the air i.e. from the sky. The missile was built by the Indian Air Force in 2014 and enlisted in the Indian Army the following year in 2015.

The decision to export the missile was ratified at a meeting of the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, in fact India presented the missile at an international arms exhibition. At that time many countries showed interest in buying these missiles. In addition to the sky, some countries also showed interest in buying our facility, radar system and air platform which is constantly monitoring the coastal area. With the Central Government approving the export of Akash missiles, Indian arms companies will have the opportunity to sell their wares abroad as well as present their products at such exhibitions.

According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India is the second largest importer of arms in the world. But India has lagged far behind in exports so far. Incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the initiative to increase arms exports. The current central government had set a target of exporting Rs 35,000 crore by 2024. According to government figures, India exported Rs 1,521 crore in 2016-17. In 2018-19, it increased to Rs 10,745 crore. That is a huge increase of 700 per cent in exports. Now the government was taking further steps to increase exports. One such step was the decision to export the sky.

A few days ago, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that India exports about Rs 17,000 crore worth of defense equipment every year. The government intends to double the export of defense materials in the next four years, i.e. by 2024. It is the government's dream to make India the largest exporter by 2030.