Wednesday, February 9 2005 14:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: India's Defence exports will touch over $ 130 million topping with sales of helicopters and aircraft built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to friendly nations.

"We are hoping to achieve exports of $ 130 million," Defence Secretary (Export) Tapan Ray said in Bangalore. India exported equipment and systems worth $ 93 million in 2003-04, he said.

The exports to countries like Nepal and Mauritius include home grown Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter, Lancer attack helicopter and Dornier transport plane, he said.

The State-run aircraft maker HAL, which has designed and developed Dhruv is expecting to close a sale with Chile this year, he said, adding, "If it happens, the export figures would be much higher."

The main Defence exporters include State-run electronic equipment major Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), Bharat Earth Movers Ltd and Ordnance Factories Board, besides HAL.

BEL Chairman Y Gopala Rao said that BEL aims to export $ 15 million worth goods this fiscal, which include radars to Indonesia and Sudan. It also has civil orders valued at over $ 3.8 million for supply of traffic signal systems and solar modules to several countries.

HAL has export orders from Israeli Aviation Industry, Airbus, Snecma and Boeing for various components and systems, official said.