DRDO Chief Says India Can Now Export Combat Aircraft and Missiles

BANGALORE: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi prioritizing on the need for increasing arms exports, the Defense Research and Development Organization has said India can now export combat aircraft and missiles whose production cost would be "much lower" than some of the weapons sold by countries such as China.

DRDO chief Avinash Chander said that the country needs a "policy mechanism" for exporting weapon systems and the defense research agency has suggested a "single window clearance" for sale of arms to friendly foreign countries in a time-bound manner.

"We have a list of equipment that includes the Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas', 'Akash' air defence system, 'Prahar' class of missiles and 'BrahMos' supersonic cruise missiles along with a number of systems that can be exported," he said.

"We are discussing the methodology for developing the export potential as well as a policy mechanism for export of weapon systems," Chander said.

Tejas is a lightweight, multi-role, single-engine tactical fighter aircraft. Akash, a surface-to-air missile, has a range of 25 km.

Prahar is a 150 km-range tactical missile system while BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile with a strike range of 290 km.

Asked about the cost-benefit for countries procuring arms from India, Mr Chander said, "Many times Indian weapons are a lot cheaper.

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