Indian Navy Aims For Complete 'Aatmanirbharta' By 2047: Admiral R Hari Kumar Inaugurates MSME Plant
The Indian Navy's goal of self-reliance encompasses the indigenous production of ships, submarines, aircraft, and weapon systems.
Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Monday that the Indian Navy is on a trajectory to achieve complete self-reliance by 2047. Inaugurating the Nibe Defence and Aerospace manufacturing plant in Chakan, he emphasised the significance of industry collaboration to fulfil this commitment. The Navy's goal of self-reliance encompasses the indigenous production of ships, submarines, aircraft, and weapon systems.
Admiral Hari Kumar, addressing the gathering, underscored the importance of industry support in realising the vision of self-reliance. "The Indian Navy is committed to achieving 'aatmanirbharata' (self-reliance), and we have promised the national leadership that we will become completely self-reliant by 2047, and for that, we will require the help of the industry," he stated, as reported by news agency PTI.
Highlighting the inauguration of Nibe Defence and Aerospace's manufacturing facility, the Admiral affirmed that it enhances the nation's capability to manufacture weapon systems in alignment with the broader goal of self-reliance. "Becoming 'aatmanirbhar' by 2047 means that every ship, submarine, aircraft, and weapon system will be made in India," he reiterated.
According to the report, while providing insights into the levels of self-reliance achieved in the defence ship sector, Admiral Hari Kumar stated, "A ship has three components - float, move, and fight. In the float component, we have achieved almost 95 per cent (self-reliance). In the 'move' component, we are somewhere at 65 per cent and in the 'fight' component, we are at 55 per cent".
He accentuated the need for increased efforts in the 'move' and 'fight' components, encompassing weapons, weapon systems, sensors, radars, missile launchers, and missiles, the PTI report said. The Navy Chief highlighted that producing these systems within India is not only an economic imperative but also vital for the country's strategic autonomy.
The Indian Navy, Admiral Hari Kumar stated, actively supports Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He highlighted the collaboration with Nibe Ltd, where the MSME is involved in producing Brahmos launchers for ships. The Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) facilitated a platform for MSMEs to present innovative solutions for Navy technology, resulting in over 300 proposals and 518 signed contracts.
Addressing the challenges faced by MSMEs, including funding, Admiral Hari Kumar proposed the establishment of a "strategic development bank with a dedicated vertical to address the specific requirements of MSMEs in the defence sector". He expressed that such an initiative would further contribute to the country's 'aatmanirbharata' in defence production.
Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, present at the inauguration, echoed the commitment to self-reliance and emphasised the significant growth of MSMEs in the country's defence production.
"With the formation of defence PSUs, competition has increased, which will be beneficial for procuring quality material," Bhatt said, according to PTI.
"Earlier we used to buy arms and ammunition from other countries but now with the development of various indigenous projects, institutions like HAL, DRDO etc, have become significant worldwide," he went on to say. On the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary, Bhatt remembered and paid tribute to his historic contribution.
The Nibe Defence and Aerospace facility, equipped with advanced Vertical Machining Centres, supports various critical sub-systems for the defence industry, contributing to the government's vision of an 'aatmanirbhar' defence sector.
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