The government is set to unveil a policy next month outlining a plan to make India one of the top five defence manufacturing countries within the next ten years. The policy is being prepared and will be sent to the Union cabinet for its approval soon.
The defence production policy (DPP-2018) will be released next month.
The focus of the defence production policy (DPP-2018) is to make adequate investments to develop technology for manufacturing major military hardware such as attack helicopters, fighter jets, and other weapons locally.
The aim of the DPP is to develop the platforms which are currently being imported. India was the biggest arms importer accounting for 12 percent of global imports during 2013-17. India’s weapons imports increased by 24 percent between 2008-2012 and 2013-2017, as per global think tank Sweden-based Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
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India’s is dependent on imports for 65 percent of its defence requirements due to poor defence manufacturing capabilities. India is the 5th largest military spender after US, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. India spent over $75 billion on importing weapons in the last 15 years.
The DPP is likely to relax the procurement process by simplifying the approval process which is the main cause of delays. The draft policy released in March aimed at exporting Rs 35,000 crore worth of military equipment and services by 2025 as one of its major objectives. The government has identified 12 weapon systems that need to be produced locally to achieve “self-reliance”. This includes fighter jets, helicopters, missile-launching platforms, small arms, land vehicles, ammunition and explosives.
The government aims to boost public and private sector in achieving “self-reliance” under the policy.
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