The green shoots that had broken out of the seeds of self-reliance are now visible to all. The proof of India’s self-reliance’s forward journey are the increasing number of companies that once sold to India, now looking at Indian companies as partners. This became very clear as some of the top global defence firms pleaded India’s case to a jam-packed hall consisting of the who’s who of the Indian strategic affairs community gathered in New Delhi to attend the India Defence Conclave, recently hosted by BharatShakti.
As India ensures that an ever-increasing range of its equipment is made in India, both for itself and for the world, Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (F – OEMs) are investing in India. These firms are now looking at India not just as a market, but also as a manufacturing and design base. Companies both foreign and Indian are also investing in creating an ecosystem that will help the country fulfil its ambitions.
F – OEMs working in India are impressed by India’s manufacturing might and the eco-system that has been built around the defence and other industries. Laurent Videau of France’s Naval Group says “Submarine construction is probably the most complex and difficult equipment to build. Just to give you an example, a fighter aircraft will require tens of thousands of hours to build. A submarine will require millions of hours. So, the fact that Mazagon has been able to, in a few years, build these submarines entirely alone, is a testimony of the strength of technology.”
Kiran Dambala of Lockheed Martin also praised the manufacturing prowess of the country. Dambala said “Just imagine, starting with, 100% imported suppliers for the empennages to now, 96% indigenization happening here in India for a major complex aero structure, which is the tail of the C-130j aircraft. Fast forward back to 2020 when through Covid, we were trying to get the prototype The Indian industry has taken long strides in the past decade in substantial segments of defence manufacturing. It has absorbed technology, enhanced investment in defence research and development, and graduated to producing an increasingly longer list of world class systems and platforms. Policy changes by the government have provided the right thrust. The momentum needs further acceleration with increasing participation of F – OEMs in a win-win model with the Indian defence industry.
Dhruv Yadav
