According to a report published in March 2012 by the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India topped China as
the largest importer of arms during 2007-11 and accounted for 10 per
cent of global arms import as compared to Chinese share of five per
cent.
The report mentioned China, which was the largest importer of arms
during 2002-2006, slipping to fourth spot in 2007-11 given the
significant advancement in China’s arms industry and increased arms
exports.
India has taken numerous measures to modernise its armed forces in
the past ten years. The country has signed several deals to procure
military hardware such as 10 C-17 strategic lift aircraft, six C-130
Super Hercules Special Operations aircraft, additional Sukhoi-30 MKI
fighter jets along with several warships.
The report revealed the countries from Asia and Oceania as the
leading arms importers as they accounted for 44 per cent of arms imports
followed by Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa which
accounted for 19 per cent, 17 per cent, 11 per cent and 9 per cent of
total arms imports respectively.
In the budget presented in the parliament for the fiscal year
2012-13, the Finance Minister announced to increse India's defence
budget by 17 per cent and doled out 1.93 trillion Indian rupees for the
defence purpose. Of this outlay, 41 percent has to be spent on procuring
modern weapons systems and military hardware.
No comments:
Post a Comment