By V Srinivasan
India’s concerted efforts towards indigenisation in the defence and aerospace sectors under the broader framework of Atmanirbhar Bharat demonstrates a strategic move towards reducing dependence on foreign suppliers and enhancing domestic capabilities. The nation is progressively establishing itself as a global leader in high-tech defence and aerospace solutions.
Indigenisation: Areas of focus
- Defence manufacturing: Efforts of public sector undertakings (PSUs) like HAL, BEL, DRDO and BrahMos are supported by active private sector participation. This collaborative effort between PSUs and the private sector helps in creating a more competitive and self-sufficient supply chain.
- Aerospace programmes: India has made significant strides in developing indigenous aerospace technologies such as the Tejas LCA, LUH, ALH Dhruv, and satellite launch vehicles from ISRO. However, the development of more advanced systems, particularly engines like the Kaveri, continues to require collaboration with international partners.
- Missile systems: India’s missile capabilities are significantly enhanced through systems like the Agni, Prithvi, Akash and BrahMos missiles. The development of the Astra missile highlights India’s growing self-reliance in missile technology, signalling progress in defence capabilities.
- Private sector participation: Private companies are increasingly participating in niche sectors such as electronic warfare, precision approach RADAR, ADFCR, FCR and battlefield management systems. Programmes like iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) play a crucial role in encouraging innovation within the private sector, which enhances the overall dynamism of the defence ecosystem.
- Import reduction: India has successfully reduced its defence imports from 70 percent to 35–40 percent, a remarkable achievement. The growth in defence exports reflects India’s capability to produce competitive, high-quality defence systems.
- Raising awareness: There is a need to create awareness about the availability of indigenous products developed, tested and proven by the company to the end users to make use of the readily available indigenous products as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
- Certified AS9100D supplier base: Efforts are underway to increase the number of AS9100D certified suppliers in India. This globally recognised certification ensures that suppliers meet the high standards necessary for aerospace and defence products, contributing to overall product quality and reliability.
- Manufacturing awareness and quality control: The focus needs to be on enhancing manufacturing awareness regarding stringent industry quality standards. This includes educating the sector about the necessary quality standards, processes and documentation required for approval, which is critical for minimising delays.
- Approval lead times and documentation: Efforts need to be taken to address the lead time and documentation bottlenecks in obtaining necessary approvals. By streamlining these processes, the company is helping the aerospace and defence sectors to improve efficiency and meet stringent industry requirements.
- Shortages of Nadcap-approved labs: India faces a challenge in the limited availability of Nadcap-approved labs for aerospace and defence quality testing. Efforts need to be made towards increasing the number of such labs to meet certification standards and reduce reliance on foreign entities.
- Reducing dependency on imported components: The commitment to reduce dependency on imported electronic components is imperative. Encouraging local sourcing and strengthening the indigenous supplier base fosters a more resilient and self-reliant supply chain.
- Mil-grade PCB manufacturers: The demand for military-grade printed circuit boards (PCBs) is high, due to which there is a need to increase the availability of domestic PCB manufacturers to meet these stringent requirements.
- High-tech miniature parts for supersonic applications: A major focus is the development of high-tech miniature parts necessary for supersonic applications. These parts are crucial for India’s long-term goals in advanced aerospace technologies, contributing to the nation’s push for self-reliance.
- Certification bodies and approval times: A lack of certification bodies and lengthy approval times remain significant barriers. Efforts to encourage local certification and support suppliers in obtaining necessary approvals are crucial in accelerating the indigenisation process.
Key indigenous projects and challenges
- Tejas Mk-1A, AMCA stealth fighter, and INS Vikrant aircraft carrier are key indigenous projects that reflect India’s capability in aerospace and naval defence. However, challenges remain, particularly in the development of the Kaveri engine for the Tejas and addressing issues around testing, quality control and certification.
- Collaboration with international entities may be necessary in certain areas, but the overarching goal remains to build a robust domestic ecosystem capable of supporting such advanced technologies.
Industry collaboration with education and research
- Partnerships with research institutions: The collaboration between institutions like IITs and DRDO is vital for fostering innovation. Establishing centres of excellence (CoEs) in areas such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and aerospace systems will drive R&D forward.
- Industry-academia linkages: Strengthening industry-academia linkages will ensure that research and development are aligned with the real-world needs of the aerospace and defence sectors.
- Workforce development: Efforts to address the skill gap in the aerospace and defence sectors are essential. With initiatives like the Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill Council aiming to train 6,00,000 personnel by 2035, scaling this effort will be critical for sustaining the momentum of indigenisation.
Strategies for overcoming challenges and driving growth
- Maximising indigenous content: Increasing the indigenous content in products will ensure that India remains in control of its technology and production, reducing its reliance on foreign suppliers.
- Advanced product development planning: Employing advanced planning techniques to predict future requirements ensures proactive addressing of challenges in aerospace and defence technologies.
- Investment in young talent: Companies should invest in young engineers, encouraging them to develop innovative solutions and drive progress in aerospace and defence.
- Educational seminars and awareness programmes: Conducting seminars and awareness programmes targeted at engineering students will help bridge the gap between academia and industry, creating a pipeline of talent for future challenges.
- Quality and technology-oriented decision making: Prioritising quality and technology when making procurement decisions ensures the selection of the most innovative and reliable solutions, rather than simply focusing on cost.
- Long-term supplier relationships: The company focuses on building long-term, trust-based relationships with suppliers, ensuring a more resilient and sustainable supply chain that can adapt to the evolving needs of the aerospace and defence sectors.
Moving forward
India is poised to emerge as a global leader in defence and aerospace by focusing on the following:
- Strengthening the domestic supply chain to minimise bottlenecks.
- Building a robust testing and evaluation infrastructure.
- Enhancing collaboration between industry and educational institutions.
- Scaling up workforce development and skills training.
By focusing on these areas, India can meet its ambitious targets, including military modernisation, technological integration, and self-reliance in defence manufacturing, all while contributing significantly to global security.
Conclusion
The indigenisation efforts can play a critical role in advancing the country’s aerospace and defence sectors. Through innovation, quality, and talent investment, along with the development of local supplier networks, India is well-positioned to achieve its Atmanirbhar Bharat goals. This vision not only strengthens national security but also sets the stage for India to become a global leader in defence and aerospace solutions.
The author is General Manager (Supply Chain Management) at Data Patterns (India) Ltd.
