India set to export 1st batch of missiles
| Date :16-May-2019 |
By Gurdip Singh:
SINGAPORE
INDIA will export its first batch of missiles this year to the South East Asian and the Gulf countries after receiving “increasing interests” from them, a top defence official said here on Wednesday. Speaking at the IMDEX Asia 2019 exhibition, Commodore S K Iyer, Chief General Manager for HR at BrahMos Aerospace, said that the first missile export contract awaits a Government to Government approval. “A number of South East Asian countries are ready to buy our missiles,” he said.
“It will be our first export and we have received increasing interests in the missiles form the Gulf countries,” Iyer said at the three-day international maritime conference and exhibition which began here on Tuesday. Indian defence sector sees good opportunities for exports to the South East Asian and the Gulf countries where slower economic growths have put budgetary pressure on acquiring viable, cost-effective and reliable solutions.
India-Russia joint venture BrahMos and defence company L&T Defence of Larsen & Toubro Ltd are showcasing a wide range of defence equipment at the IMDEX for the South East Asian markets. Noting a significant change in market trends, industry observers said developing economies in the Middle East, South East Asia and South America were looking for viable, cost effective and reliable solutions.
They said that some of these small economies are looking for renewals of older assets through platform upgrades with latest technologies. Budgetary constraints on defence procurement means life-span extension of older assets, said Martyn Allen, regional director for Asia at QinetiQ.