The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is going to carry out a major change in the postings and deployment of military attaches posted abroad to increase the export of military equipment from the country.
Earlier, they were posted to countries from where they would help in import, but now they will be posted with a focus on expanding exports.
This would also lead to a reduction of military officers posted in countries from where India have been importing military hardware traditionally.
Further, while positing these officers, the focus would be on countries in Africa, middle eastern countries along with the friendly nations in south-east Asia which have shown interest in Indian equipment like the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
India has put a virtual ban on imports and is buying only highly essential equipment from external sources and insisting on make in India.
The MoD is already been working towards increasing the defence exports along with reducing the import in the defence sector, and have issued a negative list for imports comprising of 400 items.
Worth mentioning, India’s Defence Exports have reached an all-time high of approx. Rs 16,000 Crores, almost Rs 3,000 Crores more than the previous financial year. It a rise of over 10 times since 2016-17.
Besides, the Department of Defence Production has envisaged the defence export target of Rs 40000 Crores (USD 5 billion) by 2025.
Who are DAs?
The Defence Attachés (DA) are the bridge between India and Friendly Foreign Countries for mutual defence cooperation, who effectively promote Indian defence production capabilities under Aatmnirbhar Bharat and understand the technological innovations taking place in Indian Defence Production Sector, both Public and Private so as to showcase and promote these in their countries of accreditation.
