India’s third negative list for defence imports: In a major decision to support domestic defence industry, India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh Thursday released the third indigenization list of 101 products. The defence systems and sub-systems listed in the third negative list are fairly complex in nature and it shows the growing confidence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in the domestic defence industry for their development and manufacture in the country.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh said these weapons and platforms will promote domestic industry and transform research & development, and manufacturing in the country.
“Our aim is to create an environment where public, private sector and foreign entities can work together and help India become one of the leading countries in defence manufacturing,” Singh told the media in New Delhi.
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The list, notified by Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence (MoD), lays special focus on equipment and systems, which are being developed and likely to translate into firm orders in next five years.
These weapons and platforms are planned to be indigenised progressively over a period of five years, some of the defence equipments in the list will be banned for import from the end of this year while some items will be banned for imports from December 2027.
Technology transfer to Indian defence industry.
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“These 101 items will, henceforth, be procured from local sources as per provisions of Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020,” said the government.
The third defence indigenization list (the negative import list) follows the first negative list which was issued in August 2021 and banned the import of 101 items and the second negative list which was released in May 2021 and banned the imports of 108 defence equipments.
With the release of three defence negative import lists so far, Prime Minister Modi’s government has included a total 310 defence equipments and platforms in the negative list that will only be sourced from domestic defence companies.
Import substitution of ammunition which is a recurring requirement has been given special emphasis this time.
“The spirit behind issuing these three lists comprising 310 defence equipment, slated to be manufactured locally, reflects the growing confidence of the Government in the capabilities of domestic industry that they can supply equipment of international standards to meet the demand of the Armed Forces,” the MoD said.
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The government said that it was likely to stimulate the potential of indigenous Research & Development (R&D) by attracting fresh investment into technology and manufacturing capabilities. It will provide ample opportunities to the domestic industry for understanding the trends and future needs of the armed forces.
The third list comprises highly complex systems, sensors, weapons and ammunitions like Light Weight Tanks, Mounted Arty Gun Systems (155 mm X 52 Cal), and Guided Extended Range (GER) Rocket for Pinaka MLRS.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, top defence officials in Delhi.
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The list also includes other defence platforms such as Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH), Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPV), MF STAR (Radar For Ships), Medium Range Anti-Ship Missile (Naval Variant), Advance Light Weight Torpedo (Ship Launch), High Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MALE UAV), Anti-Radiation Missiles, and Loitering Munitions, among others.
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The list can be accessed here.
