India Spends More On Indigenous Defence Equipment Than Imports

India has spent more on indigenous acquisition of defence equipment compared to imports. According to information provided by the government of India, in the year 2009-2010, the capital acquisition from indigenous sources was $4683.86 million. A total of US $16468.852 million has been spent on indigenous acquisition and $10667.271 million on the foreign acquisition. It rose to $5682.065 million in 2010-2011 and then fell back to $5045.663 million in 2011-12.In the first quarter of 2012, it stood at $1057.264 million. In the year 2009-10 the capital acquisition from foreign sources was $2423.547 million. As in case of indigenous sources, the foreign procurement also rose, to $2790.569 million in 2010-11. There was huge increase in foreign acquisition of $4371.852 million during 2011-12 and $1081.303 million in the first quarter of 2012-13. This information was provided to the Indian parliament by Defence minister AK Antony. The figures were provided in Indian Rupees and converted to US$ by defenseworld.net at the current rate of exchange. The actual imports in dollar terms could be higher as the Indian Rupee was trading about 10% higher during the past two years. Defenseworld.net understands that purchase of equipment license-manufactured in India is counted as indigenous equipment which perhaps explains the high amount of indigenous expenditure.