DEFENCE PRODUCTION POLICY 2018

Self-reliance in defence production has been the goal of India’s defence production strategy since 1960s. Government has also announced a Defence production Policy 2011. Significant progress in domestic defence production has been made. India defence production has progressively increased from Rs. 43,746 crores in 2013-14 to Rs. 55,894 crores in 2016-17. Defence PSUs like HAL in aero, MDL, GRSE, GSL and HSL in naval, BDL, BEML, MIDHANI and OFBs in land systems and BEL in electronics have emerged as significant players in the defence production ecosystem in the country. Several platforms like Air Defence Missile System ‘Akash’, Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’, Main Battle Tank ‘Arjun’, Ballistic Missiles like ‘Prithvi’, ‘Agni’, Multi Rocket Launcher System ‘Pinaka’, Central Acquisition Radar have been designed and produced indigenously and several others like Fighter Aircraft Sukhoi Su-30 MKI & T-90 Tank have been produced based on transfer of technology. However, it is also true that despite some salient achievements of our defence production ecosystem, a significant part of our defence requirements continue to be dependent on imports. India has become one of the largest importer of defence goods and services in the world. This needs to change.