• Under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat, India is growing in its capabilities of manufacturing wide variety of Defence platforms and missiles. Akash is country’s important missile with over 96 percent indigenisation. 

    • Akash is a Surface to Air Missile with a range of 25 Kms. The missile was inducted in 2014 in IAF and in 2015 in Indian Army. 

    • After its induction in the Services, interest is shown in Akash missile by many friendly countries during International Exhibitions/Def Expo/Aero India.

    • The export version of Akash will be different from System currently deployed with Indian Armed Forces. 

    • Besides Akash, there is interest coming in other major platforms like Coastal Surveillance System, Radars and Air platforms. 

    • To provide faster approvals for export of such platforms, a Committee comprising of Raksha Mantri, External Affairs Minister and National Security Advisor has been created. 

    • This Committee would authorise subsequent exports of major indigenous platforms to various countries. The Committee would also explore various available options including the Government-to-Government route. 

    • Government of India intends to focus on exporting high value defence platforms, to achieve target of 5 Billion USD of defence export and improve strategic relations with friendly foreign countries.

    • India exported defence equipment worth Rs 10,745 crore in 2018-19 — seven times the figure in 2016-17.

    • Other defence platforms that hold export potential include the light combat aircraft, Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Prahar surface-to-surface missile, supersonic cruise missile Brahmos, sonars, a variety of unmanned systems and battlefield radars.

    • Defence items already being exported include the advanced light helicopter, offshore patrol vessels, personal protective gear, surveillance systems and a variety of radars.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)