TOWARDS A VIABLE DEFENCE INDUSTRY

NINAD D SHETH reports that while ‘Make in India’ in defence gets an investment kickstart, technology challenges and the poor records of India’s Defence Public Sector Undertakings are matters of worry

- NINAD D SHETH

TOP THREE WEAPONS IN INDIA’S ARSENAL

NAMCA:

This is a new weapon developed by India. The core of this system is the 3rd generation Nag anti-tank missile mounted on a modified BMP-2 chassis. It contains eight Nag missiles in armoured box launchers plus a further eight for reload.

INS KOLKATA:

The Kolkata-class is the first modern Indian destroyer. Indigenously designed and built , this class of three ships will add considerably to the capability of the Indian Navy. It is also the first Indian warship to use AESA radar, the MF-STAR

PHALON:

India was late in entering the AWACS scene, but it did so with a bang, by procuring what is described by the FAS as the most advanced AWACS in the world. It consists of an Elta EL/W-2090 radar mounted on an IL-76 aircraft.

The Narendra Modi-led government’s announcement of a series of measures pertaining to defence production has excited Corporate India that sees a lot of business opportunities.

Out of the total capital outlay budgeted for 2021-22, 64.09 per cent has been earmarked for domestic capital procurement. Contracts, both big and small, are starting to roll in an early incubation for a private sector defence industrial complex with Indian characteristics.