Asia & Pacific

12:38 07.03.2017(updated 13:00 07.03.2017) Get short URL

Sputnik/ Ilya Bogachev

"Work started along time ago. This will be similar toANTRIX, the commercial arm ofIndian Space Research Organization (ISRO)," the source said.

BrahMos Aerospace is an Indo-Russian joint venture company inwhich DRDO has 50.5% stake and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia has 49.5%. The company is currently responsible fordesigning, developing, producing and marketing BrahMos supersonic missiles.

DRDO is not satisfied withefforts ofthe government-owned defense companies inpromoting DRDO's developed systems asmost ofthese companies have sufficient domestic orders and are not committed towardsexports.

DRDO wants tostay focused onits primary objective i.e. research and development, especially inareas where imports entail prohibitive costs or where India does not yet possess technologies critical formeeting the requirement ofarmed forces, butit wants a dedicated wing that can handle commercial deals togive a fillip todefense exports fromIndia.

DRDO-developed systems won the world's attention duringAero India, Bahrain International Air Show and Africa Aerospace and Defense Exhibition inSouth Africa. Following this, DRDO found the need tohave a commercial wing due toincremental demand ofits developed systems globally.

"Twenty countries have shown interest inprocuring the DRDO systems like Akash surface toair missile, BrahMos, Sonar, Underwater Acoustic Communication System, Torpedoes, Fuel Air Explosive Bomb, Thermobaric & Main Battle Tank Ammunition, Titanium Sponge, AEW&C System, and BFS Radar," said Dr S Christopher, DRDO chairman.

India has set a target of $2 billion defense exports, a six-fold increase fromcurrent exports, by2019. In order togive impetus toexports, the Narendra Modi government has allowed government-owned defense companies toearmark 10 per cent oftheir production forexports. "The biggest challenge inboosting defense exports fromIndia is the limited range ofexportable products, limited overseas markets and predominance ofdefense manufacturers who have been inthe business far longer thanIndia," Cowshish added.

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BrahMos Aerospace to Be Indian DRDO's Commercial Wing Abroad - Sputnik International