Multi-role combat chopper is fitted with Shakti Engine, which is co-developed by HAL and France’s Safran. Army and Air Force looking to deploy helicopter along border with China.
Platforms such as INS Vikrant, LCH Prachand & ALH Dhruv aren't exclusively made in India and do rely on imports, which is a reality even for major defence producers such as US.
While govt has opened up the sector to private players & FM in budget speech said quarter of govt R&D spending would go to private sector, procurement system remains a stumbling block.
List consists of 101 items. Inclusion of naval choppers a boost to HAL, which wanted in on project. Rajnath Singh speaks about danger of importing systems with foreign codes.
Firms must build buffers, concerted indigenisation needed in strategic sectors like defence. At individual level, partial social safety net now exists, but more funding required.
India can’t break free of global supply chains & will stay import-dependent for energy, weapons parts. Selective integration may work better by creating mutual interdependence.
Lt Gen. T.K. Chawla, Director General Artillery, stresses importance of indigenous defence manufacturing while discussing challenges facing Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System & Dhanush.
Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar (Retd), who turns 80 Sunday, also became the oldest man to have flown the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas after a flight in February 2020.
From Munir’s point of view, a few bumps here and there is par for the course. He isn’t going to drive his dumper truck to its doom. He wants to use it as a weapon.
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