INDIA AND THE ARMS TRADE
Geopolitics|April 2023
Is India the largest importer of arms, or has SIPRI got it wrong?
 AMIT COWSHISH
INDIA AND THE ARMS TRADE

The annual report on ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2022’, released by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in March 2023, lists India as the largest importer of arms for the period 2018-22. India has held this position for close to two decades, except during 2005-09 when it was pipped to the post by China, and on another three occasions by Saudi Arabia during 2014-18, 2015-19 and 2016-20.

According to the report, India accounted for 11 percent of the global imports between 2018-22, down 11 percent from its 12 percent share in the preceding four-year block of 2013-17. There have been many ups and downs in India’s share, which ranged from a low of 7 percent in 2005-09 to a high of 15 percent in 2010-14. It remained below 10 percent between 2016 and 2020 before climbing again to 11 percent in 2017-21.

Concurrently, India has been edged out of the list of 25 largest exporters of arms -a league it broke into in 2015-19 with a 0.2 percent share of the global exports. In the previous year’s SIPRI report, India was ranked 23rd largest exporter above Brazil and Portugal, though all three had an equal share of 0.2 percent. It was also the highest share India managed to garner before bowing out of the league in this year’s report.

These statistics are at odds with the claims of increasing levels of local manufacturing of military equipment, corresponding reduction in imports, and a rapid rise in defence exports.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 2023-Ausgabe von Geopolitics.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 2023-Ausgabe von Geopolitics.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS GEOPOLITICSAlle anzeigen
Lessons From Gaza And Lebanon
Geopolitics

Lessons From Gaza And Lebanon

The ongoing war, loosely called the Gaza War, is actually being fought in two different loosely connected segments; against the Hamas with a spill off in the West Bank and East Jerusalem areas against Palestinian factions and against the Hezbollah in Lebanon with a spill off in Syria. Treating Israel-Hamas War and the Lebanon War as separate entities, RAJ MEHTA explains the lessons from these wars

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
November 2024
POSITIVE STEPS TOWARDS POTENTIAL REGIONAL COOPERATION
Geopolitics

POSITIVE STEPS TOWARDS POTENTIAL REGIONAL COOPERATION

It has been a whirlwind of diplomatic activity for India recently. India participated in both the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO) summit that took place in Islamabad on October 15-16, and the 16th BRICS Summit was held in Kazan, Russia, from October 2224, 2024. These back-to-back summits within a short span of time underscore India's active role in shaping regional and global diplomacy, balancing national interests with multilateral cooperation

time-read
8 Minuten  |
November 2024
THE EAGLE'S EYE TEJAS MK-II RADAR PIERCES VEIL OF THE SKY
Geopolitics

THE EAGLE'S EYE TEJAS MK-II RADAR PIERCES VEIL OF THE SKY

The Tejas Mk-II, featuring DRDO's GaN-based Uttam AESA radar, marks a major leap in India's defence, enhancing range, precision, and multi-target tracking capabilities, highlights GIRISH LINGANNA

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2024
PRIME MOVER
Geopolitics

PRIME MOVER

The indigenously developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) has received a boost with its first export order from the Kingdom of Morocco

time-read
8 Minuten  |
November 2024
TRANSFORMATIONAL INDUCTION
Geopolitics

TRANSFORMATIONAL INDUCTION

The GA-ASI MQ-9B will dramatically enhance the ISR and precision strike capabilities of the Indian armed forces

time-read
10 Minuten  |
November 2024
TACAN PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
Geopolitics

TACAN PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

Navigation systems have evolved significantly since the Viking era, with Tactical Air Navigation TACAN) now widely used for air and sea travel. Post-World War Il, reliable systems became essential for safety and efficiency, as highlighted by DR. SUJAN KUMAR SARASWATI, in this article on TACAN’s operational principles.

time-read
10 Minuten  |
November 2024
AIRBORNE TRACKER
Geopolitics

AIRBORNE TRACKER

Indigenous efforts towards AEW&C and AWACS platforms need to be stepped up even as international programmes extend the current state-of-the-art for such aircraft, highlights

time-read
9 Minuten  |
November 2024
AFFORDABLE LETHALITY THE INDIAN DILEMMA
Geopolitics

AFFORDABLE LETHALITY THE INDIAN DILEMMA

India's defence dilemma is now being complicated by the lessons learnt in the Ukraine and Gaza wars because these conflicts are reshaping the way wars are fought in the modern world.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
November 2024
FROM IMPORTS TO SELF-RELIANCE IN ARMS
Geopolitics

FROM IMPORTS TO SELF-RELIANCE IN ARMS

Self-reliance in Defence Production needs new ideas, new definitions _es and an appropriate methodology, argues AMIT COWSHISH

time-read
9 Minuten  |
November 2024
"THE INDIAN AIR FORCE IS WORKING HARD TO REMAIN A CREDIBLE AIR FORCE"
Geopolitics

"THE INDIAN AIR FORCE IS WORKING HARD TO REMAIN A CREDIBLE AIR FORCE"

Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 21, 1984, Air Chief Marshal AMAR PREET SINGH PVSM AVSM took over as the 28th Air Chief of India on September 30, 2024.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2024