According to a press release by the government, the Defence Ministry on Friday (11 March) has said that 18 major platforms including directed energy weapons, naval shipborne Unmanned Aerial System and lightweight tanks have been identified for their design and these weapons will be developed by the private sector.
This is an important move by the government to boost the domestic defence industry and reduce India’s dependency on foreign weapons and increase self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
Also, the other key platforms to be developed indigenously are the hypersonic glide vehicle, unmanned autonomous AI-based land robot, 127 mm naval gun, electric propulsion (engines) for ships and standoff airborne jammer.
According to the defence ministry, 14 platforms are being developed by the private sector under the ‘Make-I’ category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.
Under the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, ‘Make’ Category aims to achieve self-reliance by involving greater participation of Indian industry. Projects involving design and development of equipment, systems, major platforms or upgrades thereof by the industry can be taken up under this category. For Projects under Make-I sub-category, Ministry of Defence will provide financial support up to 70% of total cost of prototype development.
For projects under Make-I sub-category, the Ministry of Defence will provide financial support up to 70 per cent of the total cost of prototype development.
Make-I
- Hypersonic Glide Vehicle
- Directed Energy Weapons (300 KW and more) [High Powered Electromagnetic Devices and High Powered Laser Devices]
- Naval Ship Borne Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS)
- Light Weight Tank
- Self-Healing Mine Fields
- Unmanned Autonomous AI Based Land Robot
- 127 mm Naval Gun
- 127 mm Guided Projectile
- Electric Propulsion (Engines) for Ships
- Standoff Airborne Jammer
- Li-ion Cells/ Li-Sulphur Cells [Portable High Capacity Energy Systems replacing the Conventional Hydrocarbons
- Communication System (AFNET System Switches, routers, Encryptors& VOIP phones)
- Electro Optical (EO) Pod (with subsequent upgrade to EO/IR) with high resolution sensing
- ‘Plug and Play’ Housing/ Infrastructure for soldiers posted at extreme altitudes.
Two platforms are planned to be developed under the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) model, the ministry said in a statement and private industry will be promoted to take up design and development of military platforms and equipment in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and other organisations.
The platforms identified for development under the SPV model are Long Range Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH).
A platform called Low Orbit Pseudo Satellites will be developed under the iDEX programme which is an initiative to promote start-ups and MSMEs.
The ministry said anti-jamming systems for multiple platforms are being developed under ‘Make-II’ category.
The projects under ‘Make-II’ category are funded by the industry with assured procurement by the government.
The four platforms accorded AIP are Communication System (AFNET System Switches, routers, Encryptors & VOIP phones); EO Pod (with subsequent upgrade to EO/IR) with high resolution sensing; Standoff Airborne Jammer; and Light Weight Tanks.
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