Indian defence companies will get orders worth Rs 8 lakh crore over next 10 years, says Army Chief
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Highlighting the global situation arising out of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and underscoring the significance of Aatm Nirbhar Bharat or Self Reliant India, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande has said that indigenous weapon systems are the only way forward for the Indian Army. During an interaction with select journalists including All India Radio, the Army Chief said that one of the lessons that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has taught on how to be more self-sufficient and not to have foreign dependence even when it comes to sustenance, including ammunition.He further said that indigenisation is an opportunity, not an impediment. “I would say that to modernise, we need to indigenise,” he added.General Manoj Pande said that the contracts signed with the indigenous defence industry have seen a three-fold jump in the last four years, and that orders worth Rs 8 lakh crore will be placed with Indian companies within the next ten years.In reply to a question, Gen Pande said there are growing opportunities for the defence industry, which is evident from Acceptance of Necessity or AoN, worth Rs 40,000-crore worth for major defence procurements.On the question on what are the new technologies that Army is looking to induct in the near future, Gen Pande said there is a requirement for equipment and platforms for intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance roles, including UAVs, counter-drone systems, ground-based surveillance systems and radar systems as well as special armament such as loitering munitions.The Army chief said that the design, development and manufacturing of defence systems have four pillars, which are resource allocation, enabling policies, viable market, and competition.
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