This year also the Indian Army proved its military might across the world. Global Firepower's 2023 ranking confirms this. According to the ranking, India has the fourth most powerful army in the world. The Global Firepower website tracks defense related information of the countries of the world. It had released the ranking for 2023 by analyzing the capabilities of the armies of 145 countries of the world. In this ranking, India's rank was better than countries like United Kingdom, France, Pakistan.
In the year 2023, while on one hand the Defense Ministry made a new record of import of security weapons, on the other hand indigenous manufacturers also got the biggest order in the history of India. Weapons manufactured in India were included in all the three Indian armed forces, Army, Air and Navy, and the initiative of self-reliant India was strengthened. Let us know what was in the headlines this year in the field of defence.
Touched the figure of Rs 16,000 crore
India was earlier known for importing security weapons. But due to government policy initiatives, today India is creating new records in arms export. Indian arms export record has reached close to Rs 16,000 crore in 2023. This is approximately Rs 3,000 crore more than the last financial year.
There has been an increase of more than 10 times in defense exports in 2022-23 as compared to the financial year 2016-17. Security exports worth Rs 1,521 crore were made in 2016-17. At the same time, exports worth Rs 686 crore were made in 2013-14. If seen in this way, an unprecedented achievement of 23 times growth in exports in the defense sector has been achieved in 10 years.
These figures symbolize India's growing strength in the world's defense manufacturing sector. The demand for Indian made weapons like BrahMos missile, Tejas spacecraft has increased across the world. According to the government report of 2024, 100 Indian companies are exporting Indian arms to more than 85 countries. India's dependence on foreign equipment has also reduced due to self-reliant initiatives.
historical military exercises
A joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the French Army took place at Pangod Military Station in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala in March. It has been named 'FRINJEX-23'. This is the first time that the armies of both the countries participated in this format. Apart from this, India also conducted its first maritime exercise with ASEAN countries in Singapore.
Army gets advanced satellite
The Defense Ministry has given permission to an advanced communication satellite named GSAT-7B for the Indian Army . This satellite will help the army in intelligence communication. For this, the Defense Ministry has signed an agreement worth about Rs 3000 crore with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). ISRO will make this satellite.
Enemy penetrating missiles successfully tested
Navy successfully test fired Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM). MRSAM is an anti-ship missile made in India. This missile has been jointly developed by India's DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Agni-1, a medium range ballistic missile, was successfully test fired from APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. Agni-1 missile is a nuclear capable surface-to-surface missile. It is capable of hitting targets with a very high level of accuracy. It has been developed by DRDO.
Indian Navy 's increased strength
At the beginning of the year, in the month of January, the Indian Navy had commissioned INS Vagir, the fifth submarine of the Kalvari class. It has been made in India only. Many big missiles can be kept in it and its radar system is one of the best in the world. It has been completed in the shortest time among all the indigenously built submarines so far.
The Crest of Yard 12706 (Imphal), the third stealth destroyer of Project 15B guided missile, has been unveiled in November and preparations are being made to be inducted into the Navy in December. This is the first warship to be named after a city in a north-eastern state. This ship is capable of firing BrahMos missile.
India making history
The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) in November had approved the purchase of 97 Tejas Mark 1-A fighter aircraft and 156 Prachanda attack helicopters. Both these aircraft are indigenously developed. The value of these deals is approximately Rs 1.1 lakh crore. The Defense Procurement Council had also approved some more deals whose total value is estimated to be Rs 2 lakh crore. According to media reports, this is the biggest order received by indigenous manufacturers in the history of India.
Earlier, the Defense Acquisition Council had also approved nine proposals worth about Rs 45,000 crore. All these purchases will be made from Indian vendors which will promote 'self-reliant India'. This also includes the purchase of 12 Su-30 MKI fighter planes.
Weapons and foreign policy
This year India has approved security deals with many countries. India is in talks with about a dozen countries on selling BrahMos missile. This will not only bring economic benefits but will also promise strategic partnerships with other countries . The sale of BrahMos to Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam strengthened India's Act East policy.
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