Centre To Reform Military Attache Deployments To Boost Defence Exports

By Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mandate to increase exports, the central is implementing a significant change in the deployments of military or defence attaches, who will be assigned to nations that can assist in expanding domestic defence exports.

This reform is being carried out by the Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Defence, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed methods to increase defence exports from the country at the joint commanders’ conference.

Top defence officials said, “The military or defence attaches will now be deployed in countries where they can primarily assist in increasing the country’s defence exports, including products from both the public and private sectors”.

They claimed, “This would also result in fewer military officers stationed in nations where we have traditionally imported military gear”.

“There is no point in maintaining a significant number of attaches in countries that have been exporting weapon systems to us at a time when we have stopped importing weapon systems from abroad and are insisting on production in India under the Make in India scheme”, they added.

India has effectively banned imports, purchasing only critical equipment from outside sources and insisting on manufacturing in India.

The officials stated that the focus of these officers will be on countries in Africa, the Middle East, and friendly states in South East Asia that had expressed interest in Indian technology such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

Several Indian government agencies have also opened offices to assist the Armenian military in increasing exports.

According to officials, the government will also allow attaches to promote the sale of hardware manufactured by the country’s private sector.

As stated by officials, when Western countries promote the sale of their weapons in India or other countries, military men accompany their sales teams to make the pitch since it is in their national interest, and the same may be done here.

The Indian side believes that the military hardware it produces can find consumers in Africa or South East Asian countries searching for a consistent supply at a decent and inexpensive price.

The DMA, commanded by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, has been aiming to increase defence exports while decreasing defence imports.

The DMA has already released a negative list for imports, which includes over 400 goods.

Many import deals have been scrapped or put on hold in recent years, including the plan to buy 33 fighter aircraft from Russia, high calibre guns for the Navy from the US, high altitude long endurance drones, and many other products.

Only the Defence ministry has granted the forces permission to import high-level equipment.

The Department of Defence Production, led by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, has set a USD 5 billion export objective for 2025.

They have also planned to employ the defence trachea to reach the export objective because it is believed that they can play a crucial role. After all, they understand the individual country’s defence requirements and can promote the export of Indian defence items to their respective countries.

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