The world's biggest importer of weapons decides to make its own

For more than a decade, India shopped around the world in search of a deal for more than $1bn-worth of helicopters to replace 200 of its military’s ageing light-utility aircraft.

But in August, the new nationalist government surprised many when it abruptly scrapped the request for global bids to buy the helicopters in favour of manufacturing them in India instead.

In recent months, India has reversed two more proposals for buying transport aircraft and submarines and decided to make them at home. It’s part of an ambitious push by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to foster a domestic arms industry, within a greater nationwide initiative Mr Modi has called “Make in India”.

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