India to Invest $150 Billion in Military DefenceSystems AHMEDABAD: Distinguished scientist and DirectorGeneral of BrahMos missile system division of the DRDO, Dr Sudhir Mishra, today said the country would require various military equipment worth USD 150 billion in the next10 years.
Inviting private players to grab the opportunity by entering the defence equipment manufacturing, Mishra said the Defence Research and DevelopmentOrganization (DRDO) is ready to share its technology with the manufacturers.
Mishra, who is also the CEO and Managing Directorof 'BrahMos Aerospace', an India-Russia joint venture of the Ministry of Defence, was speaking at an interactive session on defence manufacturing organised by the Gujarat chapter of CII here.
"In the next 10 years, there is a requirement of around USD 150 billion of military equipment. This is a realistic and quite a moderate figure. This is a big opportunity for the entrepreneurs,"he said.
According to him, USD 150 billion would be spent on manufacturing or upgrading aircraft, tanks, guns and various other equipment. "There are many items, which we are going to manufacture or procure. Many of them have already become a reality,such as the upgrade of MiG-29 and Mirage aircrafts.
We are also going to procure around 500 moreT-90 battle tanks in a short time," he said. Expressing concern over the overall manufacturing scenario in the country, he invited private players to consider taking up production of defence equipment.
"In our country, the contribution of the manufacturing sector in the GDP is 18 percent for the last seven to eight years, while the contribution of the service sector is 65 percent.
This is an anomaly. Manufacturing should be around 35 to 40 percent and service sector has to be 15 to 25 per cent," he said. "At present, we own 6 to 7 percent of the global software market. But now, we cannot grow beyond this, as we mostly carry out outsourcing and low-end software jobs.
That is why, the new government at the Centre Came up with 'Make In India'. Now, we are trying to catch up," said Mishra. "DRDO is ready to share the technology, aswe alone cannot do it. Private players can take that technology from us and develop it for the market.
You can approach us and start manufacturing,"he added while addressing budding entrepreneurs from this sector.
Swedish defence firm Saab and Adani Group have announced a collaboration plan entailing billions of dollars for the development and manufacture of Gripen fighter jets and other hightech products in India.
Saab AB CEO Håkan Buskhe said in New Delhion Friday that plans were afoot to create a defence ecosystem in India, which will involve partners, vendors and suppliers.
“The collaboration is meant for Gripen fighter jets. We also have other projects such as nichesensors for instance ground penetrating radar and other R&D,” he said.
The collaboration comes at a time when theIAF is about to initiate the selection of a single engine fighter aircraft to replaceRussian MIG-21s and MIG-27s. Whether the IAF procures Gripen will depend on whether Saab and Adani qualify and win the contract.
When asked about this, Buskhe said, “we have a strong belief that we can qualify for the needs of the IAF. We recognise some work needs to be done, but we would not have taken the step if we didn’t believe we would be successful.”
US defence firm Lockheed Martin will be a major competitor for Saab. Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani said that a roadmap of self-reliance and indigenisation has been created in collaboration with Saab.
The first focus will be on technology of critically important equipment such as fighters, unmanned aerial systems, carbon composites and radar technology.
Besides ensuring transfer of technology, there will also be “focus on capabilities critical for true indigenisation, including design,system integration, maintenance and upgrade for Gripen in India,” said Adani.
He added that Gripen will be offered to Indiaas the best single engine fighter aircraft under the strategic partnership model. Saab is willing to bring its technology inIndia and foresee exporting the Gripen to other countries. “What we offer is total source codes.
One of our unique things is that the Gripenis designed to meet the requirements of the next 50 to 60 years,” a top Saab official site. Buskhe said “we will not extend our capacity in Sweden, so India will be a partner in the global chain.
We will definitely export from India to other countries if the Indian government thinks it is a good idea. There is billions of US dollars of investment in such capability.
This is not a question of production, butto create the capability from design to control of the supply chain and developing the next aircraft in India.
We are talking of full capability.” Buskhe added that the basic design of a navalversion of the Gripen has also been made in Sweden.
In relation, the Indian Navy wants to procure57 multirole carrier borne fighters. So what do you think of India boosting itsMilitary with $150 Billion for its defence systems?
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