Government plans to reform military attaches’ deployments

New Delhi: Government is planning to carry out a major reform in the deployment of military attaches posted abroad. The step is intended to increase the export of military equipment from the country.

Official sources told Defence Watch that the government is going to change the focus with which these attaches are posted to countries. They were earlier posted to countries from where they would help in import, but now they will be posted with a focus on expanding exports.

Department of military affairs and the department of defence will soon start the new postings of officers to countries like nations in Africa, Middle East Asia and south-east Asia, from where they will help in increasing exports.

India has been dependent on imports as until a few years ago, it was one of the largest importers of hardware from abroad.

According to them, when Western countries promote the sale of their hardware in India or other countries, their military personnel accompany their sales teams to make the pitch as it is in their national interest and the same can be followed here as well.
Indian side feels that the military hardware produced by it can find buyers in Africa or South East Asian countries who are looking at a constant supply at reasonable and affordable cost.

They said, "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, there is no point in maintaining a significant number of attaches in countries which have been exporting weapon systems to us."

DMA led by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan has been working towards increasing the defence exports along with reducing the import in the defence sector.
The DMA has already Issued a negative list for imports and over 400 items are there in that.

India in the recent past has junked many import deals and r put them on hold like the plan to buy 33 fighter aircraft from Russia, buying high calibre guns for the Navy from the US, high altitude long endurance drones and many other items.
Relaxation's have been given to the forces to import equipment at the highest level only in the defence ministry.

The Department of Defence Production under Defence Secretary Giridhar Armane has envisaged an export target of USD 5 billion by 2025.

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