India still largest arms importer, 24% rise in 5 yrs

NEW DELHI: India continued to be the largest weapons importer in the world over the last five years and arms exports from the United States to the country jumped 557% in 2013-17 as compared to 2008-12, a Stockholmbased think tank said in a report released on Monday.

India’s overall i mports climbed 24% in the five-year period, accounting for nearly 12% of all global i mports, reported the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), according to whose findings India has been the largest weapons importer for over a decade.

Russia, the country’s top arms supplier, accounted for 62% of India’s arms imports in 2013–17, followed by the US (15%) and Israel (11%), according to the report.

India spent more than $100 billion on buying new weapons and systems during 2008-17, with imports accounting for around 60-65% of the country’s military requirements.