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New Delhi: India is targeting 75 percent indigenisation in defence production by 2025, according to Avinash Chander, scientific advisor to the defence minister. He told reporters in the national capital on Saturday that several steps are being taken to reduce dependence on imports and achieve self-reliance.
In addition, he said he did not agree with perception that current level of indigenisation is only 30 percent. "The analysis of government approvals over the past seven years shows that over 50 percent of the procurement was indigenous. Our self-reliance index is definitely more than 50 percent," he said.
Avinash, who is also Director-General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), said key areas to help achieve higher self-reliance had been identified. He said the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) alone would contribute Rs 40,000 crore in procurement over the next eight years.
The DRDO is presently working to enhance rate of production of the LCA to 16 per year as the Indian Air Force (IAF) is keen to speed up the acquisition process. Further, in 10 years the country also expects to have its own platform for medium combat aircraft. Finally, the DRDO is also working on indigenous development of unmanned systems.
The agency is also looking for self-reliance in artillery and tank ammunition, grenades and other areas; artillery ammunition alone is expected to generate a volume of Rs 30,000 crore in five to six years.
"We are going to indigenise wide area of ammunition. We are working out a strategy to make it totally import-free area," he said.
Radars and sensors are another areas where the DRDO is working to achieve self-reliance. He pointed out that the country has now stopped importing night vision systems. The DRDO has also launched a missile autonomy mission and its goal is to take the country to a point where missiles will no longer need to be imported.
In fact, Indi, even now, has the capability to export missiles and will soon start laying policy norms for the same, he revealed. He said several countries were showing a keen interest in missile systems developed by India.
The scientific advisor also said the new Narendra Modi-led government is keen on building up the export potential of the country’s defence sector, naming Akash and Prahar – medium and short range surface-to-surface missiles and Brahmos. Ship-launched and cruise missiles could also have export potential, he added.
The country’s top defence scientist believes India will achieve system export capability in 18 to 24 months. "We have the capacity. We have the capability. Our weapons are globally competitive in their performance," he said.
In fact, Avinash claimed that weapons developed by India were 50 to 60 percent cheaper than those by competitors; some systems are even a fifth cheaper. The DRDO’s DG feels a sustainable model of development, for defence products, has to go hand-in-hand with export planning and hopes the new government will consider the matter.
DRDO targets increased indigenisation, export of defence products | ***************
In addition, he said he did not agree with perception that current level of indigenisation is only 30 percent. "The analysis of government approvals over the past seven years shows that over 50 percent of the procurement was indigenous. Our self-reliance index is definitely more than 50 percent," he said.
Avinash, who is also Director-General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), said key areas to help achieve higher self-reliance had been identified. He said the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) alone would contribute Rs 40,000 crore in procurement over the next eight years.
The DRDO is presently working to enhance rate of production of the LCA to 16 per year as the Indian Air Force (IAF) is keen to speed up the acquisition process. Further, in 10 years the country also expects to have its own platform for medium combat aircraft. Finally, the DRDO is also working on indigenous development of unmanned systems.
The agency is also looking for self-reliance in artillery and tank ammunition, grenades and other areas; artillery ammunition alone is expected to generate a volume of Rs 30,000 crore in five to six years.
"We are going to indigenise wide area of ammunition. We are working out a strategy to make it totally import-free area," he said.
Radars and sensors are another areas where the DRDO is working to achieve self-reliance. He pointed out that the country has now stopped importing night vision systems. The DRDO has also launched a missile autonomy mission and its goal is to take the country to a point where missiles will no longer need to be imported.
In fact, Indi, even now, has the capability to export missiles and will soon start laying policy norms for the same, he revealed. He said several countries were showing a keen interest in missile systems developed by India.
The scientific advisor also said the new Narendra Modi-led government is keen on building up the export potential of the country’s defence sector, naming Akash and Prahar – medium and short range surface-to-surface missiles and Brahmos. Ship-launched and cruise missiles could also have export potential, he added.
The country’s top defence scientist believes India will achieve system export capability in 18 to 24 months. "We have the capacity. We have the capability. Our weapons are globally competitive in their performance," he said.
In fact, Avinash claimed that weapons developed by India were 50 to 60 percent cheaper than those by competitors; some systems are even a fifth cheaper. The DRDO’s DG feels a sustainable model of development, for defence products, has to go hand-in-hand with export planning and hopes the new government will consider the matter.
DRDO targets increased indigenisation, export of defence products | ***************
