Indian Army Cracks Down on Chinese Components in Drones and Weapons

In a significant move to tighten national security and advance self-reliance in defence, the Indian Army has announced a complete ban on the use of Chinese-made components in indigenous drones and military equipment. This decision comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, which exposed the risks of foreign technological infiltration.

Major General CS Mann, DG, Army Design Bureau (ADB), made the Army’s position clear at a defence industry event recently. He stated that the Army would now conduct stringent audits of all military equipment to ensure the absence of Chinese parts, particularly in surveillance and logistics drones.

Government Forms Audit Teams, Warns Private Defence Firms

The Ministry of Defence is in the process of forming special audit teams to examine existing equipment and identify the use of Chinese components. Private companies participating in defence tenders have been strictly warned to ensure their products are completely free from Chinese-origin hardware or software.

Any company found violating this directive could face contract termination and a potential ban from future procurements. Companies must now submit formal certifications confirming the absence of Chinese parts or software vulnerabilities that could compromise national security.

400 Drones Found with Chinese Parts, Contracts Cancelled

As part of the Army’s ongoing internal review, approximately 400 drones supplied by indigenous vendors were found to contain Chinese components. The Army has responded by cancelling the contracts with the manufacturers involved. Moving forward, any equipment that fails to meet the Army’s zero-tolerance policy on Chinese parts will be disqualified from procurement.

“This is not just about hardware,” a senior official said. “We are also looking at software. Manufacturers must ensure that their systems are not vulnerable to hacking or remote interference.”

China Shared Indian Army Movements with Pakistan

Adding urgency to the crackdown, Indian Army Deputy Chief Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh revealed a major intelligence breach during Operation Sindoor. He disclosed that China had provided live feeds of Indian troop movements to Pakistan during critical DGMO-level talks.

Lt. Gen. Singh also claimed that China had shared India’s military vectors—details of possible offensive plans—with Pakistan. He added that three countries were working in coordination, implicitly including Turkey alongside China and Pakistan.

“This breach exposed how foreign components, especially those from adversarial nations, can become liabilities in sensitive defence systems,” said an Army source familiar with the matter.

Push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat with Strict Oversight

The Indian Army has been actively procuring drones from domestic manufacturers under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. However, recent findings have prompted the military to increase oversight and enforce strict compliance with procurement guidelines.

Team BharatShakti