Access to critical technology is very restricted, says Bajpai
Defence industry is strengthening to produce ammunition due to the growing concern about supply chain disruptions while the need for indigenisation, says Anurag Bajpai, Additional Secretary Defence Production, Ministry of Defence https://mod.gov.in/ .
“We are dependent on imports for critical raw materials, which affect indigenous production capabilities,” he said, pointing out that the current geopolitical crises in defence all over the globe are hinting at ramping up ammunition production.
Addressing a PHDCCI’s Conference on “Ramping up Ammunition Production in India to meet Global Demand” held on 7 May in New Delhi on the theme, “Amplifying India’s Ammunition Production: Initiatives & Opportunities”, Bajpai added, “I see many industry players have taken licenses, particularly for armament ammunition, but products have not been made.”
He informed that not less than 40 licenses have been given in the ammunition sector in the last few years, and urged the industry https://twitter.com/defexpo to go ahead as there is a need to ramp up internal capabilities, as the government has already permitted.
The Government has also waived off quality assurance charges and called it an industry-friendly initiative, said Bajpai. “As a government, we are always open to bringing new initiatives, and as policies are dynamic in nature, everyone needs to come up with further suggestions.
“Access to critical technology https://www.zentechnologies.com/ is very restricted and dependence on imports creates vulnerability to the supply chain, that is why we are encouraging indigenization, and this is what we are trying to intensify.”
Hence, there is a need to focus on the planning process and maintaining the inventory. There is also a need to monitor the consumption pattern, as it should not go into the wrong hands.
Also, agility to change as the technology changes every four years, and the industry needs to work constantly, he continued, calling on start-ups to come into the picture as the industry needs to collaborate with startups for this.
He underscored the need for skilled workforce to go hand in hand with the need to look at the training part.
Regarding military standards, he said told the industry to focus on compliance with stringent policy checks.
“The need for strategies to ramp up, as well as the upgradation of current infrastructure, is crucial,” he underlined.
Promotion of R&D and skill sets to optimize resource allocations is also important, added Bajpai.
He further informed, “In the defence sector, we are coming up with defence testing opportunities for MSMEs and startups, where ammunition is one part of it, and it will be available in the next 1-2 years.”
In export, the challenge of end-user certificate there is a need to come up with the entire chain of end-users and ensure it will not export to any other country, as there needs to be a balance between diplomacy and exports,” he said.
With this, security of premises, manual provision, and cybersecurity should also be focused on while ramping up.
He concluded, “We are with the industry and recommendations emerging from this conference would be taken into further policy reforms.” Fiinews.com
