Bhatt says multiple factors considered in identifying platforms
Eighteen Defence Platforms have been identified after extensive consultations with the Services, DRDO and the Industry for achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ and in sync with the announcement made in the Union Budget 2022-23 that allocated 25% of Defence R&D Budget for industry led R&D.
This update was given by Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt in a written reply Lok Sabha on 22 July 2022.
The major platforms are for industry led Design & Development under various routes prescribed in Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020, namely, Make-I, Make-II, Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).
Bhatt listed the platforms:
Make-I
Hypersonic Glide Vehicle
Directed Energy Weapons (300 KW and more) [High Powered Electromagnetic Devices and High-Powered Laser Devices]
Naval Ship Borne Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS)
Light Weight Tank
Self-Healing Mine Fields
Unmanned Autonomous AI Based Land Robot
127 mm Naval Gun
127 mm Guided Projectile
Electric Propulsion (Engines) for Ships
Standoff Airborne Jammer
Li-ion Cells/ Li-Sulphur Cells [Portable High Capacity Energy Systems replacing the Conventional Hydrocarbons]
Communication System (AFNET System Switches, routers, Encryptors& VOIP phones)
Electro Optical (EO) Pod (with subsequent upgrade to EO/IR) with high resolution sensing
‘Plug and Play’ Housing/ Infrastructure for soldiers posted at extreme altitudes.
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Model
Long Range Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) [High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE)]
Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH)
iDEX
Low Orbit Pseudo Satellites
Make-II
Anti-jamming Systems for Multiple Platforms
These platforms have been identified taking into consideration multiple factors like the capabilities of Indian industry, being cost effective, faster and scalable; current technological advancements; requirement of future warfare; operational challenges; need for import substitution among others, said Bhatt. fiinews.com
