|
The Indian market for military equipment is growing
rapidly due to continued modernization of India's armed forces, and a
transformation program that is aimed at coping with long-term
strategic threats as well as low-intensity asymmetric and
counter-terror operations. On the strategic level, significant
modernization is underway particularly by the Air Force, Navy and Air
Defense. Land force modernization is aimed specifically at the
artillery and infantry, with the goal of providing better mobility and
protection, and increased operability through sophisticated command
and control.
India's defense industry, which is built on a foundation of skilled
engineering and production capabilities, enables the country to be
self sufficient in the production of main platforms such as missiles,
aircraft, ships and ground vehicles, including heavy armored vehicles,
but indigenous R&D programs have either not materialized or have
suffered from very long delays in progress.
Most successful in adapting sales efforts to the peculiarities of the
Indian market are the Russians, who have been the traditional arms
suppliers for India for many years. However, some significant programs
have also had European suppliers as sources, mainly British and French
companies. Two of the most successful programs are the recent sale of
six Armaris Scorpene class submarines, which will be locally built by
Mazagon Dock Ltd. in India, and the local production of missiles under
cooperation between MBDA and Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL). BDL currently
produces the Milan 2 anti-tank missile and will be involved in the
Milan ER program when
development is complete. MBDA will also be the supplier for the Indian
Navy’s SM-39 Exocet
submarine launched missiles as part of their submarine's combat
systems suite. In recent years, Israel has established close relations
with India as the two countries explore the benefits of combining
Israel’s efficient and innovative R&D with Indian engineering and
production capabilities. Cooperation agreements between Israeli and
Indian industries that have been signed in recent years are paving the
way for further cooperation in joint R&D as well as international
marketing of jointly produced defense systems.
Easing of US government restrictions has opened the Indian market to
the US defense industry and several large companies displayed their
wares at this year’s Defexpo. Boeing and Lockheed Martin are already
offering the latest versions of the
F-16
and F/A-18E/F as options for the Indian Air Force fighter
modernization program in competition with other new contenders such as
the Swedish Grippen and Russian MiG-35. According to Orville Prins,
Vice President for Lockheed Martin Business Development – India, LM is
also offering India the C-130J Super Hercules, their latest version of
this proven transport aircraft, which is already in service in
Southwest Asia and regularly operates at high altitude in hot
conditions similar to the ones that it would encounter in India.
American companies are also offering air defense systems such as the
SLAMRAAM,
Patriot PAC2 and
PAC3. For
maritime surveillance and control, Boeing is promoting the P-8 MMA
while Northrop Grumman is showcasing the carrier operable Hawkeye
2000. The Eagle-Eye tilt-rotor UAV, in development for the US Coast
Guard, is also being promoted for maritime surveillance applications.
In contrast to past practices in this region, the US companies are
making a point of their readiness to offer technology transfer and
local production of their systems. More in this review:
|
