Reliance On Defence Imports Compromises Strategic Objective, Says Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh said India will now aggressively partner with friendly countries to bolster the ‘Make in India’ campaign in the defence sector.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other delegates during the inauguration of Aero India 2023

Yelahanka, Bengaluru: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Monday said India will not continue being an assembly workshop but will produce cutting edge weaponry in an effort to bolster the 'Make In India' campaign as imported weapons will lead to compromising New Delhi’s strategic autonomy.

Addressing a CEOs roundtable at Aero India 2023, Singh said, "India does not want to remain just an assembly workshop and is looking to engage with friendly countries in defence and security based on sharing expertise and capabilities under the 'Make in India, Make for the World' vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

He also told the defence industry leaders that the government is "open to new ideas and is committed to fully harness the energy, entrepreneurial spirit and capability of private sector partners in the area of defence production".

Singh extended the government's full support towards removing obstacles and facilitating businesses.

The CEOs Round Table was organised on the theme "Sky is not the limit: opportunities beyond boundaries". The defence majors that participated in this discussion were Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industries, General Atomics, Liebherr Group, Raytheon Technologies, Safran, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited, BEML Limited, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge and BrahMos Aerospace, among others.

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"In the last few decades, despite having a diversified defence industrial base, the Indian defence industry could not perform to its full potential due to lack of a clear political vision," Singh said.

"This led to an overwhelming dependence on imported weaponry. A country of India’s size and of global prominence cannot afford to rely on imported arms for such reliance will inevitably compromise strategic autonomy of our country," the minister further said.

Singh also reiterated the government's commitment to develop defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. He also highlighted to the industry other steps taken by the government such as simplification of industrial licensing processes, hike in cap on FDI in defence, opening of government trial and testing facilities for the private sector and increase in capital outlay for defence in Budget 2023-24.

"Indigenisation is the mantra for India today, unlike in the past when import was the default option," Singh told the industry leaders even as he sought more private sector investments as well as partnership with foreign defence firms.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande and Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane also attended the Round Table.

Singh also said that the partnership between government and the industry is based on equality and mutual trust.

On Monday, Singh also met a host of defence ministers from some of India's friendly partners such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Armenia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.