New Delhi, April 7 (FN Agency) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday released the third positive indigenisation list of 101 major defence equipment and platforms which will be procured only from domestic manufacturers. “The third list comprises highly complex Systems, Sensors, Weapons and Ammunitions like Light Weight Tanks, Mounted Arty Gun Systems (155mmX 52Cal), Guided Extended Range (GER) Rocket for PINAKA MLRS, Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH), Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPV), MF STAR (Radar For Ships), Medium Range Anti-Ship Missile (Naval Variant), Advance Light Weight Torpedo (Ship Launch), High Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MALE UAV), Anti-Radiation Missiles, Loitering Munitions,” the Defence Ministry said. These weapons and platforms are planned to be indigenised progressively with effect from December 2022 to December 2027. Earlier, the first list of 101 items and second list of 108 items was promulgated on August 21, 2020 and May 31, 2021 respectively.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the third list as a symbol of 360-degree efforts being made by the Government to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. “It is our endeavour to make India self-reliant in the defence sector, build the capabilities and ecosystems needed for defence exports in times to come,” said Rajnath Singh. He exuded confidence that this new list will prove to be crucial in the development of the domestic industry and take research and development and manufacturing capacity of the country to a higher level. “I am happy that a contract of Rs 54,000 crore has been made so far on the basis of first and second indigenization lists, and an order of Rs 4.5 lakh crore is expected to be given in the next 5 to 7 years,” he said. Rajnath Singh assured that, similar to the previous two lists, the time limit given in the third list will also be adhered to. He said that Defence Ministry and the Service headquarters will take all necessary steps, including hand holding of the industry.
The DRDO also pitched in to strengthen local manufacturing by signing 30 Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreements with 25 industries. Rajnath Singh handed over the agreements pertaining to 21 technologies developed by 16 DRDO laboratories spread across the country. Among them, the minister handed over Transfer of Technology documents of DRDO developed Counter Drone System to Indian companies including Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Ltd, ICOMM Tele Ltd, Astra Microwave Products Ltd and Larsen and Toubro Ltd etc. These technologies concern Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG), developed by a DRDO Young Scientist Lab (DYSL- QT, Pune), Laser Directed Energy Weapon System, Missile Warhead, High Explosive Materials, High Grade Steel, Specialised Materials, Propellants, Surveillance & Reconnaissance, Radar Warning Receivers, CBRN UGVs, Mine Barriers, Fire Fighting Suits, Boots for Anti Mine, etc. So far, DRDO has entered into more than 1430 ToT agreements with Indian industries, out of which, a record number of around 450 ToT agreements have been signed in last two years, the Ministry said. Rajnath Singh pointed out that despite hurdles, India has always performed exceptionally well, on its own, in areas such as nuclear technology and space technology, due to the grit and determination of its scientists and researchers.
“In the 90s, when we needed a supercomputer, we decided to buy it from outside. But, citing all kinds of reasons, we were refused a super-computer. Even at that time, our scientists, researchers and engineers of The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Pune established their own supercomputer ‘Param’ by working day and night,” he said. The minister called for indigenous development of defence equipment and platform technologies, stressing that the import of systems, with foreign software codes, can prove to be dangerous for the security apparatus as it opens the window of vulnerability. “Today, the scope of defence is not limited to borders only. Anyone can now break into the security system of a country with the help of different communication methods. No matter how strong the system is, if it is linked to another country, there is a possibility of a security breach,” the minister said. He further said that earlier, the defense equipment, such as tanks and helicopters, were mainly mechanical in nature. “It was not possible to control them. But, newer defense systems and platforms are electronic and software intensive. They can be controlled or subverted from anywhere,” he said.