India, which was once heavily import dependent, is now producing 65 per cent of its defence hardware at home but the resolve is to increase this to 100 per cent, with all equipment needed by the armed forces to be made by domestic players, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday.
Speaking after the inauguration of the third production line of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A and the second line of Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT40) at the Nashik facility of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), he said the defence sector has seen a transformation in the past decade, with several private players fast emerging as manufacturers.
“There was a time when the country was dependent on other countries to meet its defence needs, and almost 65-70 per cent of defence equipment was imported. But today, this situation has changed; now India is doing 65 per cent manufacturing on its own soil. Very soon, we will take our domestic manufacturing to 100 per cent as well,” the minister said.
The minister also flagged off the first LCA made at the Nashik facility, which also undertook its maiden public flight at the event. His comments come even as policy changes are being planned to encourage more private sector participation in defence manufacturing. Among proposals being discussed is the possibility of allowing fully owned subsidiaries of foreign companies to be treated at par with Indian companies for defence contracts.
Speaking at the event, the minister also made a reference to the legacy of the Nashik facility that is transitioning from being the biggest producer of Russian-origin MiGs and Sukhois to being an important hub for indigenous platforms like the LCA and HTT40.
The Nashik plant, which produced Soviet and Russian origin aircraft for nearly sixty years, is now geared to produce locally designed fighters and trainers. Incidentally, the heart of both new aircraft being produced at the facility is of American origin. LCA is powered by a GE engine while HTT40’s power plant comes from Honeywell.
Singh said the resolve is to further reduce foreign dependencies and get access to technology that will ensure self-reliance. “We have now set a target of increasing defence manufacturing to ₹3 lakh crore and exports to ₹50,000 crore by 2029,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the minister also appreciated the role of HAL in providing operational support to the IAF during Operation Sindoor. “HAL provided support at various operational sites 24 hours a day during the operation. It ensured the Indian Air Force’s operational readiness by carrying out prompt maintenance on fighter jets and helicopters,” he said.
The minister also referred to the integration of Brahmos missiles onto the Su30MKI fighter jets, which was also carried out at the Nashik facility, saying the joint effort has proved that when it comes to critical phases of national security, India is capable of producing its own equipment.
