Indian Arms Exports Fall to 'Laughable' Level: Forecast International

Indian defense equipment exports have fallen to a "laughable" level, according to retired Maj. Gen. Mrinal Suman. Exports in 2008-09 stood at INR410.7 million ($9.06 million), but fell to INR122.8 million ($2.71 million) in 2009-10, Forecast International said. General Suman described the last decade of attempts to export Indian defense equipment as "a chronicle of tall claims, missed opportunities and inability to translate policies into implementable programs." In 2002, India established a defense procurement policy that was intended to reduce the percentage of critical defense items imported into India to 30 percent of the total. Instead, the proportion has climbed to 75 percent. General Suman noted that India has been unable to produce "a single defense system with cutting-edge technology." He described the private sector in the Indian defense industry as being a peripheral player producing low-tech components and equipment. General Suman has called for the establishment of a multi-disciplinary "Defence Capability Development Board" under the Commerce Ministry to oversee the entire gamut of defense activities and act as a single window interface for all entrepreneurs as a first step in correcting the present situation.