A fresh list of 780 parts and systems that will be subject to a gradual import ban between December 2023 and December 2028 was released by India on Sunday. The latest indigenization drive includes parts for fighter planes, trainer aircraft, helicopters, submarines, and tanks. According to a statement from the ministry, Rajnath Singh, the minister of defence, approved the most recent list to reduce imports by defence PSUs and attain Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in the defence industry.
The import of the items on this third list of "essential line replacement units (LRUs)/sub-systems/components" is prohibited. It follows the government's publication of two comparable lists in December 2021 and March 2022.
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These lists include 458 products that will be indigenized within the specified time frames and 2,500 items that have already undergone indigenization. As of now, 167 out of 458 goods have been locally produced, according to the defence ministry. India will become a global leader in these technologies thanks to the home creation of these sub-systems and components, which will also help to harness the design capabilities of the domestic defence sector.
Numerous things for fighter jets like the Sukhoi-30 and Jaguar, light combat aircraft like the Dornier-228, and submarine systems, as well as gear for T-90 and Arjun tanks, are among the components and sub-systems that the government wants to create locally.
310 different weapons and platforms, including light tanks, naval utility helicopters, artillery guns, missiles, destroyers, ship-borne cruise missiles, light combat aircraft, light transport aircraft, long-range land-attack cruise missiles, basic trainer aircraft, and multi-barrel rocket launchers, are all subject to a phased import ban that India has published on three other lists.
The defence ministry has released the most recent list at a time when the international backlash against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine has raised concerns about the future of new projects with that nation, the purchase of spare parts for existing Russian-origin weapons, and the upkeep and servicing of legacy equipment used by the three services.
The earlier list, which was issued in March, contained components for platforms and weaponry that India purchases from Russia, such as the T-90 and T-72 tanks, BMP-II infantry combat vehicles, warships and submarines, and anti-tank missiles.
Fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, battleships, submarines, tanks, infantry combat vehicles, multi-rocket systems, rifles, and even shoulder-fired missiles are just a few of the weapons that make up the foundation of India's military strength
In recent years, the government has taken a number of actions to increase self-reliance, including increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the defence industry, designating a separate budget for purchasing locally made military hardware, and publishing lists of weapons, equipment, and subsystems that are not permitted for import.
According to former director general of military operations Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd), India is making deliberate, consistent, and focused progress toward achieving Aatmanirbharta in the defence sector. Several projects have been approved for the local industry.