Likely Orders Worth Rs 600000 Crore to Indian Defence Industry
As per Mr Jayant D Patil, President of the Society of Indian Defence Manufactures, the apex industry body of the Sector, the defence equipment making industry in India is gearing up for a possible Rs 6,00,000 crore of orders from the Ministry of Defence over the next seven-eight years. The above society has some 400 members of the manufacturing industry across the country.
Patil, in an interview at the Aero India, gave an industry perspective to the announcement made by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of spending some 975000 Crores over seven-eight years. Patil said he expected some 600000 Crores worth of this work to be done by Indian Industry.
The Light Utility Helicopter has now received the Initial Operational Clearance to operate with the Indian Army. The defence services will require more than 400 of these helicopters at the least. It is a 3-ton class new generation single engine helicopter indigenously designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Production of LCA MK1 will be kick started with again orders for numerous parts and components. Within a few years, LCA Mk2 and Naval LCA will also be produced. Then will come the AMCA.
Meanwhile orders should start coming for more Cheetals, Light Attack Helicopters, Light Utility Helicopters,HTT40 trainers and finally HJT 16.
So one can imagine the spin off as hundreds of components will be required to be manufactured and supplied to the HAL by the Indian Industry.
Jayant D Patil, who heads the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, gave an industry perspective to the announcement made by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of spending some Rs 600000 Crores over seven-eight years.
On being asked how does the Indian industry see itself positioned, especially after having exported military equipment worth Rs 7800 crores last year, Patil said: “Sustainability has to be ensured, we cannot have one-time orders to move ahead.”
“I see a real reason for Rajnath Singh’s announcement of spending Rs600000 Crores getting fructified,” said Patil, who is whole-time Director, and Senior Executive Vice-President for L&T’s Defence Business. The next step is promoting industry to go out for exports. On his own company’s K9 Vajra gun being made for the Indian Army, Patil said L&T had achieved some 83 per cent localisation of the gun. “ I expect more orders of the K9 Vajra,” he concluded. As many as 128 MoUs were signed at the three-day Aero India.
