NEW DELHI, July 15: Defence exports are poised for a big leap forward with the government giving a `determined push' to the new move, defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has said.

``Giving a push to defence exports is one of our important priorities as we feel that defence public sector undertakings have come of age and this is the right time to grab a share in the international market to earn valuable foreign exchange'', the defence minister admitted in response to a query.

The defence minister said it was high time India entered the global market on this front as the products of Indian defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) were of international quality and much cheaper as compared to those of developed countries.

According to defence ministry sources here exports from defence PSUs were expected to be more than doubled in the next five years and touch the figure of Rs 300 crore. Defence exports have been registering a steady though slow growth. From Rs 69.35 crore in 1995-96, defence exports rose to Rs 126.34 crore during the last financial year.

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