Defence Ministry Bans Import Of 928 Items, Will Be Manufactured In India

The defence ministry has published a list of components and parts that will no longer be imported in the future, adding to its “positive indigenisation list,” which pushes Indian industries to sell local items to the armed forces.

The present report, the fourth in the series, focuses on 928 strategically significant line replacement units, spares and components that will not be imported on time over the next five years.

The most recent list is for things manufactured locally by public sector units (PSUs) and mainly includes items manufactured by Mazagaon Dockyards (MDL). The majority of these devices are associated with gas turbine generators, shafting systems and magazine fire-fighting systems. The list also includes parts for the HTT 40 training aircraft and the Su 30MKI fighter plane.

According to officials, the products, which include high-end materials and spares, are worth more than 715 crore.

“The DPSUs (Defence Public Sector Undertakings) will undertake indigenisation of these items through various routes under the ‘Make in India’ category and in-house development through the capabilities of MSMEs and private Indian industry, thereby providing impetus to economic growth, enhanced investment in defence and reduction in DPSUs’ import dependence,” an official said.

According to officials, the move will strengthen the local military industry’s design capabilities by incorporating university and research institutes.

The most recent such list was issued in April 2022, when significant platforms including as helicopters, light tanks, loitering munitions and a variety of missiles and ammunition were designated as ‘no import’. 

Ship-launched cruise missiles, weapon-locating radars, a naval anti-drone system, next-generation offshore patrol vessels, and small arms ammunition were among the items on the list. 

In August and May of 2021, the ministry produced two comparable lists of 101 and 108 weapon systems, respectively.