India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the fifth positive indigenisation list of 98 items for which there would be an import ban beyond indicated deadlines against them.
The announcement about the fifth positive indigenisation list at the ‘Swavlamban 2.0’ seminar organised by the Indian Navy.
Noteworthy, the list lays special focus on import substitution of components of major systems besides important platforms, weapon system & sensors and munitions which are being developed and likely to translate into firm orders in the next five to ten years.
Prominent items in the list include of
- Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle,
- Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles
- Remotely Piloted Air Borne Vehicles upto 25 Km with 2Kg Payload for Army
- Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System
- Medium Upgrade Low Endurance Class Tactical Drone
- Electric Light Vehicle for Army
- Medium Range Precision Kill System for Artillery
- Next Generation Low Level Light Radar for Army
- Automatic Chemical Agent Detection & Alarm System
- Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) Protection and Counter Measures System, Integrated Mobile Camouflage System
- AI Based Satellite Image Analysis
- Test Equipment for Guided Weapon System for Tank T- 90 S/SK
- Quantum Key Distribution System for Optic Fiber based Networks (Upto 200 Km range)
- Very High Frequency Radar, Electro Optic Fire Control System for Naval Platforms
- Armour Plates for Cabin Nose Section for Mi-17 Helicopter
- Automated Mobile Test System for OSA-AK-M Missile System
- Multifunction Aviation Ground Equipment for Air Force
- Gravity Rollers for Mi-17 V5 Helicopter
- Flares of P-8I and MiG 29-K Aircraft
The items in the list will provide ample visibility and opportunity to the domestic industry to understand the trend and futuristic needs of the Armed Forces and create requisite R&D and manufacturing capacity within the country.
To be noted, India has already published four lists that have imposed a phased import ban on 411 different types of weapons and platforms, including light weight tanks, naval utility helicopters, artillery guns, missiles, destroyers, ship-borne cruise missiles, light combat aircraft, light transport aircraft, long-range land-attack cruise missiles, basic trainer aircraft, airborne early warning and control systems, and multi-barrel rocket launchers.
These platforms are expected to be indigenised during the next five to six years. The four lists were announced in August 2020, May 2021, April 2022 and October 2022.
India has employed a two-pronged approach to achieve indigenisation through import bans. One approach relates to banning the import of platforms such as fighter jets, warships, helicopters and artillery guns (military hardware in the five positive indigenisation lists), while the other covers sub-systems, spares and components.
As part of the latter, the defence ministry has imposed a phased import ban on 4,666 smaller items, including replacement units, sub-systems, spares and components through four separate positive indigenisation lists during the last two years. Of these, around 3,000 items have been indigenised thus far in a fresh push for self-reliance and the remaining will be manufactured in India in line with the prescribed timelines between December 2023 and December 2029.
These items are used in a raft of military platforms including fighter planes, helicopters, trainer aircraft, warships, tanks, infantry combat vehicles, high-mobility trucks, defence electronics and different types of ammunition.
Sources: https://pib.gov.in/
