India looking to make its presence felt in international defence market

NEW DELHI: India is looking to attract potential foreign buyers for its defence industry products as the indigenous manufacturers can offer weapons at a better price and in a shorter period of time, Defence Research and Development Organisation Chief Avinash Chander has said.

Chander said India has the potential to make its presence felt in the coming years in global defence market.

DRDO along with its production partners is presently displaying indigenously-developed weapons systems, platforms and equipment at International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX) in Seoul.

Chander told Yonhap News Agency of South Korea during his visit to ADEX that this is the first time DRDO has displayed its surface to surface and surface to air missiles, called Pragati and Akash respectively, outside India and the decision was made as part of its attempts to attract foreign buyers.

This is just a beginning, and in my view, the right step and in the right direction, he said before adding that we still need to go a long way, he said.

India is also willing to partner with different countries to boost its defence industry and Chander termed South Korea a natural partner.

"South Koren being a strategic partner of India and a technologically strong country is a natural partner for India. This has led to India's beginning of the global jouney from Korea," he said.

The big Indian presence in the exhibition, the agency said, shows its bid to tap into potential markets in the Asia-Pacific region, where China's military build-up is driving up defense spending in neighbouring countries.