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Gandhinagar: Amidst the continuing tensions with its rival Azerbaijan, Armenia is eyeing extra defence offers with India together with potential procurement of drones and loitering munitions, apart from mid-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system just like the Akash.
Deeper defence cooperation was the main focus of the bilateral assembly between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Armenian counterpart Suren Papikyan held right here on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar Tuesday.
The assembly comes simply weeks after the 2 nations entered right into a government-to-government contract for the sale of indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, Konkurs anti-tank guides missile and all kinds of ammunition together with 80-mm mortars.
Sources within the authorities remained tight-lipped about what transpired through the bilateral assembly with the Armenian minister however maintained that “defence cooperation was the main focus”.
The Centre has been cautious of talking on the defence cooperation with Armenia due to the continuing tensions with Azerbaijan, a rustic that Turkey and Pakistan help.
Nonetheless, sources informed that Armenia has been contemplating the potential procurement of the indigenous Akash air defence programs.
It’s also arming itself with loitering munitions developed in India by personal corporations like Tata Superior Programs Restricted (TASL) and Photo voltaic Industries.
As reported by ThePrint earlier, Azerbaijan is seen by many as a part of an rising axis with Turkey and Pakistan. It has used Turkish drones to struggle the struggle towards Armenia and can also be in talks with Pakistan to purchase the JF-17 fighter plane.
The ex-Soviet republic purchased 4 indigenous Swathi weapons finding radars in 2020 from India which was delivered within the backdrop of its battle with Azerbaijan.
The sale of Pinaka rockets was the primary worldwide order for the indigenous system and also will be the primary for Akash missile system if contracted for.
India is its highest-ever defence exports this fiscal with gross sales touching Rs 8,000 crore within the first six months because the Narendra Modi authorities tries to shed its import dependence within the vital sector.
The nation’s defence exports touched a document Rs 13,000 crore in 2021-2022 fiscal, which was almost eight occasions of what it was in 2014.
In 2020, the Modi authorities had set a goal of Rs 35,000 crore (USD 5 billion) within the export of aerospace, and defence items and providers for the subsequent 5 years.
That is meant to be a part of the Rs 1.75 lakh crore (USD 25 billion) turnover in defence manufacturing by 2025 that the federal government is aiming to attain.
Additionally learn: To counter China’s affect, India seeks to spice up defence cooperation with African nations
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