The ministry said in a statement, “With a view to be self-reliant in defense manufacturing and to reduce imports of defense public sector installations under self-reliant India, 107 strategically important Line Replacement Units (LRUs)/sub-systems” has been approved. This approval has been given with a time limit, after which there will be a ban on their import.
According to the statement, these units/sub-systems will be manufactured indigenously in the coming years and will be procured only from Indian industry after the stipulated time frame.
The list includes equipment required for the production of helicopters, submarines, tanks, missiles and communication systems, etc. Many of these equipment and systems are currently being procured from Russia.
It is noteworthy that in December last year, the Ministry of Defense had released a list of 2,851 sub-systems and parts regarding the ban on imports from the stipulated time period.
Some of the spares and sub-systems identified for import ban in the new list are used indigenously developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Light Use Helicopter (LUH), Electronic Warfare System, Astra Missile, T-90 Used for the manufacture of tanks and military combat vehicles.
The Defense Ministry’s list includes 22 products that will be manufactured by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Whereas Bharat Electronics Limited will manufacture 21 sub-systems in the country.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders will manufacture six equipment and sub-systems used in the construction of ships and submarines in the country. Bharat Dynamics Limited has been entrusted with the task of indigenization of four components for the Astra missile. While 12 equipments have come under the responsibility of BEML Limited.
The ministry said indigenization of these items would be done by defense PSUs under the ‘Make’ category.
It is noteworthy that the government announced several measures to boost defense manufacturing in the country.
India is one of the largest importers of arms globally. According to one estimate, the Indian Armed Forces is estimated to spend around $130 billion in capital procurement in the next five years.
The government now wants to reduce dependence on imports and has decided to boost domestic defense manufacturing.
The Defense Ministry has set a target of $25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) business in defense manufacturing in the next five years. This includes the export target of military hardware worth $5 billion (Rs 35,000 crore).
Source: navbharattimes.indiatimes.com
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