Pakistan has a better military industrial base and exports more defence equipment than India said a top Army general as he came down heavily on ordnance factories that manufacture weapons for the forces. General Sarath Chand, Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS), said the ordnance factories have failed to keep pace with changing technology.
“I would even go to the extent of saying that Pakistan probably has a better industrial base, as far as defence production is concerned, than our country. In fact, they export defence equipment abroad, definitely more than what we are doing,” he said.
He also questioned the functioning of ordnance factories and wondered if it is because of the assured orders they have or the lack of responsibility. “There is little or no research and development. They do not even have the capability of absorbing the industry through the transfer of technology, and in some cases, they have even failed to assemble products that have been imported from abroad,” Chand said.
“It is very hard to see ordnance factories changing in the present state. Overall it has become an unsuccessful method of supporting our defence requirements,” he added.
