The Indian defense sector is one of the fastest growing markets globally, with an estimated US$13.9 billion of the annual budget allocated for the acquisition of military hardware and technology in 2010.
Defense expenditure, which refers to the part of the budget that is spent on the acquisition of all types of military hardware and technology, has grown at a CAGR of 12.14% from 2005-09. Defense expenditure is expected to record a CAGR of 6.59% during 2010-15, to reach an annual spend of US$42.6 billion by 2015. This is primarily due to ageing military hardware and technology, domestic insurgencies and hostility from neighboring countries.
Strong growth in the sector is attracting foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and leading players from the domestic private sector to enter the market. Moreover, terrorism is leading to sharp increases in the defense budget and a shorter sales cycle, which translates as an attractive market for defense manufacturers.
The areas that are specifically expected to emerge over the short to medium-term include unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), advanced electronic warfare systems, combat systems, rocket and missile systems, fighter and trainer aircraft, stealth frigates, and submarines. In addition, spend on IT and communications is expected to increase significantly, with a strong focus on enterprise applications, systems integration, and real-time mobile communications.
Among the defence services the Army with a budget of approximately Rs. 74,582 Crores in 2010-11 has the largest share, followed by the Air Force (Rs. 40,462 Crores), Navy (Rs. 21,467 Crores), DRDO (Rs. 9,809 Crores), and Ordnance Factories (Rs. 1,015 Crores).
Credit: USIBC and Its News Agencies
