India’s aerospace and defense manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), is currently engaged in discussions with three countries including Nigeria for sale of its domestically produced ultra-modern, multi-role Tegas MK-1A fighter jets.
This was revealed by C. B. Ananthakrishnan, the Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics. He said his company was also in talks with Philippines and Argentina for the sales of the new war planes.
Egypt, he claims, has expressed interest in the light combat aircraft, although discussions with them are still in the early stages.
India’s sales push in Nigeria comes at a time when Nigeria’s National Assembly unpatriotically turned down purchasing made in Nigeria vehicles for its about 420 legislators. In October, a firestorm greeted the parliament’s extravagant budget of N56 billion to buy imported Toyota vehicles from Japan for the legislators. Despite the outcry, the parliament went ahead with the purchase.
India – which leapfrogged from a 3rd World poverty capital of the world in 2018, has left Nigeria in that unenviable position.
Hindustan Aeronautics exports constitute only 1% of its revenues, notwithstanding, it has made exports its strategic focus. The company has witnessed a surge in substantial orders from the Indian defense forces. To facilitate and enhance its export capabilities, HAL is taking proactive steps, such as establishing offices in select overseas markets.
The company says it is actively engaging with the Nigerian Army Aviation and hopes to provide training for Nigerian officers and create spares part supplying channels here, with the objective of strengthening her presence in the Nigerian market.
The whole effort is in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s broader vision to position India as a prominent defense manufacturer and plans to achieve $5 billion in annual defense exports for his country by the end of 2025. A lesson for Nigeria.
It will be recalled that in November, Nigerian Air Force struck a $1.5 billion deal with an Italian defense company for the supply of 24 Nos. of M-346 master aircrafts, expected to be delivered in 2024.
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