At the meeting of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence on Self-Reliance in Defence Manufacturing on June 16, 2023, India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, said that irrespective of ideology, there has always been consensus from all quarters towards attaining the goal of complete self-reliance.
Additionally, he said that the Indian Defence industry is also fulfilling the security needs of friendly countries. The Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt; Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan; Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane; Secretary (ex-Servicemen Welfare), Vijoy Kumar Singh and the Secretary Department of Defence Research and Development (R&D) and the DRDO Chief Samir V Kamat were also present in the meeting.
During the meeting, the members of both the communities from the Houses of Parliament (Lower and Upper House) were apprised of the initiatives taken by the MoD to achieve Atmanirbharta in defence and the progress achieved so far.
The Minister highlighted the government’s constant endeavour to enhance the security of the country and make the Armed Forces of the Country technologically advanced to deal with challenges emanating out from the ever-evolving global scenario.
Rajnath Singh termed “demand assurance” as one of the most important aspects to ensure self-reliance; He stated that a number of decisions had been taken to achieve this objective. These include a constant increase in the defence budget, including capital outlay, earmarking of the record 75 per cent of the defence capital procurement budget for the defence industry in the financial year 2023-2024 and issues of positive Indigenisation lists.
Singh asserted that the government’s decisions have started to bear fruit, and today, the company is indigenising and manufacturing weapon platforms such as submarines, fighter jets, weapons and helicopters.
“In the last financial year, our defence production crossed one lakh crore and exports touched Rs 16,000 crore. This is proof that the defence sector and the nation at large are on the right path,” he said.
He appreciated the fact that irrespective of ideologies, there has been a consensus from all quarters towards attaining the goal of complete self-reliance. “If we wish to make India a defence exporter instead of an importer, we must stand together in every situation with the idea of the nation first. Only then can it achieve the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
India is now exporting to over 85 countries. The Industry has shown its design and development capabilities to the world with 100 firms exporting defence products. The rising exports and participation of 104 countries in Aero India 2023 testify to this fact.
India supplies weapons, arms, ammunition and rifles to most of its neighbours, barring Pakistan and China. It has rendered help and trained the Nepalese Army, defending the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, It also exports military hardware to Bangladesh.
Countries such as Argentina have expressed their keen interest in buying the LCA (Light Combat Aircraft-Tejas), and the Philippines have shown interest in procuring the BrahMos Missile system.
India is strong in areas such as Naval Equipment, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Cybersecurity, Armoured Vehicles and training. All these factors should be used as leverage in exporting military hardware to global nations.
Examples include the Dornier Aircraft, 155mm Artillery Guns, BrahMos Missile, Akash Missiles, Armoured Vehicles, PINAKA rockets, Radars, LCH and LCA Tejas, along with simulators, body armour for troops etc.
India can boost its defence exports by strengthening its domestic defence industry, developing indigenous weapons, simplifying export procedures, and increasing its market outreach expansion and competitive pricing offer.
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