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Weapon platforms: Antony advocates self-reliance

Special Correspondent

Against resistance by “entrenched interests”

Call to partner with industry to increase purchases
India among top three equipment-importing countries

NEW DELHI: Warning against resistance by entrenched “interests,” Defence Minister A.K. Antony has called upon the defence establishment to redouble its efforts towards self-sufficiency in weapon platforms.

Speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), the Minister said his analysis of the issues plaguing the defence sector had more than convinced him of the need to pay more attention to developing local expertise in all aspects.

“I am fully convinced with my analysis of defence acquisition, problems with regard to lifecycle support for imported equipment and other issues that India must strengthen its indigenous R&D and manufacturing capabilities,” he said.

“The international market forces certainly will offer resistance,” he cautioned, while advocating the government-dominated defence sector to partner with the industry to increase purchases from India. The DRDO is making efforts to effect structural changes to respond to the new milieu by inculcating the corporate culture, he said.

Despite not being among the top eight spenders on defence, India is among the top three defence equipment importing countries.

Some studies contend that nearly two-thirds of its defence platform requirements will be regularly purchased from abroad for the next 10 years. The Minister’s appeal to redouble efforts towards indigenisation comes against the backdrop of regular hiccups in the import of defence equipment, regardless of their country of origin.

The biggest issue in the media currently is the Russian delay in the modernisation of the aircraft carrier Gorshkov.

However, most defence imports such as equipment for special forces, landing ships and weapon locating radars, all sourced from more ‘efficient’ western suppliers, also suffered from cost or time overruns or both.

Congratulating the defence scientists on their recent successes in test flights of medium range as well as interceptor missiles, Light Combat Aircraft and Main Battle Tank, he called on the DRDO personnel to minimise delays though proper project management when they upgrade the systems.

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