India has long been one of Asia’s top spenders on defense, second only to China. Much of this spending is necessary to supply the country’s enormous force of 1.6 million active personnel and to upgrade its aging equipment. Historically, India has equipped its forces with imported gear, but lately it has started developing into an arms exporter.
This push for self-reliance is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” initiative, which provides state support for domestic military production and reduces barriers to foreign investment. By weaning itself off defense imports, India gains more freedom in its interactions with its erstwhile arms suppliers, particularly Russia and the United States.
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