In a positive development, India exported military hardware and systems worth Rs 38,500 crore in the last seven years. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt revealed this information in reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
The minister stated that the major items exported by India from 2014-15 and 2020-21 included armoured protection vehicles, weapons locating radar, light-weight torpedo and fire control systems and tear gas launchers.
“Currently, the exports are being made to about 75 countries. Names of the countries cannot be divulged due to strategic reasons,” he said.
According to the data provided by Bhatt, India’s defence exports in 2014-15 was Rs 1,940.64 crore and it increased to Rs 2,059.18 crore in 2015-16. The value of exports in 2016-17 was recorded at Rs 1,521.91 crore while it went up to Rs Rs 4,682.36 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 10,7465.77 crore in 2018-19
“Further, Bharat Electronics Limited has been nominated to execute the project of enhancement of digital appeal at National War Memorial,” he said. Replying to another question, Bhatt said the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has not undertaken any project to develop “robotic soldiers”. “However, DRDO has taken initiative to develop technologies required for robotic systems,” he said.
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