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NEW DELHI (PTI): India has imported defence items worth over Rs 25,765 crore in the last three years whereas its export in the sector was worth Rs 740 crore only.

"Total expenditure on import of equipment in last three years in Rs 25,765.92 crores," Defence Minister A K Antony said in reply to a query in Lok Sabha.

Major countries from which the imports are made include Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Israel.

India depends on foreign suppliers for more than 70 per cent of its defence needs and is taking a number of steps to evolve an indigenous defence industry to move towards self-reliance.

In a written reply to a query on Indian defence exports, Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju said that defence equipment worth Rs 744.47 crore were exported during the last three years.

The exported items included arms and ammunitions, aircraft components, communication equipment, radars, night vision devices and harbour tugs, he added.

The importer countries include the US, Russia, Israel, Italy, the UK, Suriname, Indonesia, Malaysia, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador and Mauritius, Raju said.