New Delhi:Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that Indigenisation in defence sector has to be on top of the agenda to deal with crippling operational shortages in ammunition stocks. She stated this at DRDO awards ceremony in the Capital on Monday while adding that manufacturing of defence equipments cannot be done with borrowed technology.
Indigenisation is part of government’s Make in India initiative. Under Make in India initiative, the Defence Ministry and Army are reportedly contemplating to involve domestic private sector to manufacture different types of ammunition in the country. India is one of the largest importers of arms in the world.
“India being the largest procurer of defence equipments, the emphasis on indigenisation has to be reiterated. This is exactly what has happened from 2014,” she said, referring to the government’s Make in India initiative. “Manufacturing of defence equipment by keeping indigenisation as its top consideration has to be on top of the agenda. Manufacturing cannot be done with borrowed technology. We really got to have the drive for innovation,” Sitharaman said, addressing Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists in the Capital.
S Christopher, Chairman of the DRDO, said the organisation has now got an engine for Ghatak, an unmanned combat air vehicle, and is working to have DRDO sensors and weapons on the warships that are exported.
