Clarity in the business case for foreign OEMs to align with the Make in India agenda could prove critical for direction and momentum to the campaign for self-reliance in Defence Production

Photo Credit : Ministry of Defence,

The defence sector is witnessing unprecedented changes. These changes are driven by policies that pave the way for private sector participation in defence equipment manufacturing on a scale never seen before. Sure, defence is a nation’s investment in security, but the investment in defence preparedness spills out into the national economy. Defence equipment production has contributed significantly to the national growth of advanced economies like the United States, France, Germany, Sweden and Russia, among others. Technology is the key driver of aerospace and defence today.

In emerging economies, defence production is a bridge that links technology to industrial growth. India’s industrial revitalisation programme rests on next generation technology that the country strives to achieve. In Asia, South Korea is an example of such industrial development where aerospace and defence played a crucial role in laying a strong foundation for economic growth.

The Indian Armed Forces is poised for modernisation, which creates tremendous opportunities for it to build capabilities. Opportunities also arise for technology-based industries to co-create technologies with both government-owned entities and private sector companies and ‘Make in India’. The armed forces modernisation also throws up challenges in embracing next generation technologies, which remain the prized preserve of a chosen few in the world of aerospace and defence. So, it is time for India to focus on and invest in research and development (R&D) in defence and incubate indigenous technology.

The Indian Air Force needs 500 fighter aircraft in the near future. While the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has successfully delivered the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas, the time is now ripe for ushering in the private sector for building next-generation capabilities. This maiden print edition of BW DEFENCE focuses on such pressing issues in the sphere of aerospace and defence. In this issue, we gather leaders from across the world who talk of the prevailing opportunities in the defence sector. Defence industry leaders outline their interest and plans for India.

Some are already working closely with the Indian Armed Forces. We bring to you the vision of Raksha Rajya Mantri, Ajay Bhatt and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, who emphasise on Make in India in defence. Indigenisation is no doubt, the mantra for reducing India’s dependence on imported military equipment. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, G. Satheesh Reddy, talks of DRDO’s focus on critical technology, even as it opens up its facilities to the private sector. BW DEFENCE intends to strive for an unbiased coverage of the defence sector. Its pages will focus on national defence, modernisation, the defence industry, defence research and development, homeland security and geopolitical and geo-strategic issues. We vow to keep you enthralled.