Manufacturing capacity, drones and modern technologies are the new focus areas
As the Indian defence manufacturing sector moves towards ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance), defence-related patent data shows that more than 2500 applications have been filed since 2018. It is encouraging as the cumulative number of patent applications in this sector till 2018 stands at a meagre 1700. Now that the push towards indigenous innovation in defence manufacturing is gaining momentum, such datasets validate the steps taken so far.
Some sources from the defence sources recently commented: “The new Make in India in defence as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat policy is particularly strong on design. In fact, because of the indigenous technology development efforts, more than 2500 patent applications have been filed during the last four years in comparison to 1700 cumulative applications filed from inception till then.” Adding further, the sources said, “Such efforts are likely to have a huge impact on the development of defence platforms to meet the growing and futuristic requirement of our Armed Forces.” The power showcased by Drone swarms at this year’s Beating Retreat ceremony also surged the upcoming drone demands in the sector.
Hinting that manufacturing capacity and modern technologies are being focused upon, the sources added, “The non-hackable quantum channel created by our start-up with a hop of 150 km on a terrestrial optical fibre infrastructure, which betters the 90 km of similar hop achieved in the world.”
It is noteworthy that the government has been allocating separate budgetary resources in order to indigenise the defence manufacturing sector. Several collaborative research programmes with eminent institutes like IITs are undergoing across the country. Moreover, in FY 2022-23, 25 per cent of the defence R&D budget has been allocated for industry, startups and academia-partnered research for the defence sector. SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) models will be developed in order to bring together the industry players with DRDO and other defence organisations. An independent oversight body will be set up for enforcing testing and certification requirements.
