Centre approves indigenous defence projects

Context: In a renewed push for self-reliance in the defence sector, the government gave in-principle approval to a raft of indigenous defence projects that will involve design and development by the industry.

• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has also given approval for the design and development of nine defence equipment by the Indian industry.

About the project

• The defence ministry has cleared nine projects: four projects are under the ‘Make-I’ and five are under the ‘Make-2’ categories of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.
• Aim: To help harness the design capabilities of Indian defence industry and position India as a design leader. 

Make-I

• It refers to government-funded projects.
• The projects are for the design and development of light tanks, communication equipment with Indian security protocols, airborne electro-optical pod with ground-based system and airborne stand-off jammers.

Make-II

• It covers industry-funded programmes.
• The projects are simulators for Apache attacks helicopters and Chinook multi-mission choppers, wearable robotic equipment for aircraft maintenance, autonomous combat vehicle and integrated surveillance and targeting system for mechanised forces.
• It also involves prototype development of military hardware or its upgrade for import substitution for which no government funding is provided.

Make- III

• It covers military hardware that may not be designed and developed indigenously, but can be manufactured in the country for import substitution.

Indigenisation list

• India will soon notify a new list of weapons and systems that cannot be imported.
• It will be the third positive indigenisation list.
• The government has already notified two lists of 209 weapons and equipment that cannot be imported.

Facts and Figures

• India earmarked Rs 84,598 crore for purchasing locally produced weapons and systems.
• 68% of the military’s capital acquisition budget to boost self-reliance in the defence sector.
• 25% of the defence R&D budget for private industry, start-ups and academia to pursue design and development of military platforms.

India has set aside Rs 70,221 crore for domestic defence procurement in 2020-21

• 64% of the military’s capital budget 
• 58% of the capital budget.