India world's largest arms importer, China at no 2: Report

India has emerged as the world's largest arms importer overtaking China which shared the second spot with South Korea followed by Pakistan, according to a report by a Swedish think-tank.

"India is the world's largest arms importer," according to new data on international arms transfers published today by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

"India received 9% of the volume of international arms transfers during 2006-10, with Russian deliveries accounting for 82% of Indian arms imports," it said in a comprehensive annual update of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Database.

The four largest importers of conventional weapons in 2006-10 are located in Asia, the report said. India last topped the list in 1992.

The share of the four countries are -- India (9%), China (6%), South Korea (6%) and Pakistan (5%). These states have imported, and will continue to take delivery of, a range of major conventional weapons, in particular combat aircraft and naval systems, the report said.

India's arms import delivery volumes jumped 21% from the prior five-year period, with aircraft accounting for 71% of it imports. In the case of Pakistan, the report said the volume of imports rose 128%.

The report said India is expected to keep the top spot for the foreseeable future.

"Just from what they have already ordered, we know that in the coming few years India will be the top importer," said Siemon Wezeman of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.

Wezeman said Indian imports of major conventional weapons are driven by a range of factors. "The most often cited relate to rivalries with Pakistan and China as well as internal security challenges," he said.

"As an importer, India is demanding offsets and transfers of technology to boost its own arms industry, and, in order to secure orders, major suppliers are agreeing to such demands," he noted.

India has unveiled plans to buy 126 fighter jets, 200 helicopters and large amphibous landing ships. A proposal to acquire a submarine is also in the pipeline.

India's defence budget for 2011-12 has been fixed at Rs1.5 trillion, a 40% increase from two years before. It imports roughly 70% of its arms.

China dropped to second place as it continued to build up its domestic arms industry, something India has so far failed to do so. Wezeman said.

The average volume of worldwide arms transfers in 2006-10 was 24% higher than in 2001-2005. The major recipient region in 2006-10 remained Asia and Oceania (43% of all imports), followed by Europe (21%), the Middle East (17%), the Americas (12%) and Africa (7%).

The US remained the world’s largest exporter of military equipment, accounting for 30% of global arms exports in 2006-10, followed by Russia and Germany.

During 2006-10, 44% of US deliveries went to Asia and Oceania, 28% to the Middle East and 19% to Europe.

"There is intense competition between suppliers for big-ticket deals in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America," said  Dr Paul Holtom, Director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.

The Eurofighter consortium (comprised of Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK), France, Russia, Sweden and the US are competing for combat aircraft orders in these regions, with notable competitions in Brazil and India.

The states of the Middle East and North Africa have been regarded as potentially lucrative markets for arms exporters thanks to the resource revenue windfall of recent years, the report said.

During 2006-10, arms imports were particularly high in the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Egypt and Algeria. Based on existing orders and known procurement plans, Saudi Arabian and Moroccan arms imports are expected to rise significantly in the coming years.

According to Pieter Wezeman of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme, "Although Libya placed only limited orders for major conventional weapons following the lifting of the UN arms embargo in 2003, in recent years it has served as an excellent illustration of the competition between major suppliers France, Italy, Russia and the UK for orders".

However, there are limits to what supplier states are willing to provide, as shown by the imposition of UN Security Council arms embargoes on the supply of most major weapons to Iran in June 2010 and for a broad range of military and paramilitary equipment to Libya in February 2011.