'Make in India' Now Aims to Manufacture Indigenous Combat Vehicles

BENGALURU: Initiated in 2014 by the Prime Minister, “Make in India” is a part of the nation building activities. The project forged to transform India into a global design and manufacturing hub. Initially encouraging small smartphone makers to join the program, now the initiative aims for an Indigenous defence production––manufacturing the latest fighter jets, aircrafts, combat vehicles and helicopters for the Indian defense forces.

According to the economic times, ‘Make in India’ focuses on producing around 2,610 infantry combat vehicles (FICVs) for the Army with an estimated cost of 60,000 crore. Additionally, the Defence Ministry also approved the Tata-Airbus project in May last year, wherein, the first 16 C-295 will be manufactured and imported from abroad and the rest 40 will be manufactured in India within eight years.

Another major outbreak for the Make in India project will be the production of 200 Kamov-226T Helicopters. Estimated at 6,680 crore, the first 60 choppers will be tested and made in Russia followed by the rest in India. Not only airbus and choppers, the project has even focused on the construction of six stealth submarines with 60,000 crore as estimate. However, the tender for 75 submarines is yet to be issued and the defence/private shipyard and foreign collaborator are yet to be selected. After the roll out of the contract, it will take another eight years for the submarines to be completed.

Looking into the fighter planes sector, the Defence Ministry approved the second fighter production after launching its indigenous Tejas LCA. Currently standing at 33 squadrons, the requirement for the IAF is about 42 fighter squadrons, each having 16 to 18 jets.

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