The
year 2024 witnessed some major achievements and breakthroughs as Ministry of
Defence (MoD) marched ahead with “renewed vigour to make India a strong,
secure, self-reliant and prosperous nation”. Some of the major highlights of
2024 included:
India-China
border consensus: India
and China achieved a broad consensus to restore the ground situation in certain
areas along the LAC. Both countries have been holding talks at diplomatic and
military levels to resolve the differences in some areas along the LAC. As a
result, a broad consensus was developed on the basis of equal and mutual
security. Raksha Mantri, during the Chanakya Defence Dialogue in October 2024,
described the consensus as proof that continuous dialogue brings solutions.
Positive Indigenisation List: To boost Aatmanirbharta in defence and minimise
imports by DPSUs, Department of Defence Production in July, notified the fifth
Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) consisting of 346 items. These included
strategically important line replacement units/systems, sub-systems, assemblies,
sub-assemblies, spares/components and raw materials. Earlier, four PILs
comprising 4,666 items were notified by the DDP for DPSUs, of which 2,972
items, having import substitution value worth Rs 3,400 crore, have already been
indigenised. These five lists for DPSUs are in addition to the five PILs of 509
items notified by the Department of Military Affairs. These lists include
highly complex systems, sensors, weapons and ammunition.
Record Defence Production: MoD achieved the highest ever growth in
indigenous defence production in value terms during Financial Year (FY)
2023-24, on the back of successful implementation of the policies and
initiatives of the Government. The defence production went up to a record-high
figure of Rs 1,26,887 crore, reflecting a growth of 16.7% over the defence
production of the previous financial year. The value of defence production in
FY 2022-23 was Rs 1,08,684 crore. Of the total value of production in 2023-24,
about 79.2% has been contributed by DPSUs/other PSUs and 20.8% by the private
sector. The data shows that in terms of absolute value, both DPSUs/PSUs and
private sector have recorded a steady growth in defence production. MoD has set
a target to achieve Rs three lakh crore defence production by 2029.
Record Defence Exports: Defence exports touched a record Rs 21,083 crore
(approx. US$ 2.63 billion) in the FY2023-24, a growth of 32.5% over the
previous fiscal when the figure was Rs 15,920 crore. The figures indicated that
the exports grew by 31 times in the last 10 years as compared to FY 2013-14.
The defence industry, including the private sector and DPSUs, have made
tremendous efforts in achieving the highest ever exports. The private sector
and DPSUs contributed about 60% and 40% respectively. Raksha Mantri has exuded
confidence that the target to export defence equipment worth Rs 50,000 crore by
2029 will be met.
C-295 Tata Aircraft Complex: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish
President Mr Pedro Sanchez jointly inaugurated the Tata Aircraft Complex for
manufacturing of C-295 transport aircraft at Tata advanced systems limited
Campus in Vadodara, Gujarat in October 2024. In September 2021, MoD had signed
a Rs 21,935-crore contract with Airbus Defence and Space SA, Spain for supply
of 56 aircraft; 16 to be brought in fly away condition from Spain and 40 to be
built in India by TASL. Of the 16 aircraft, six have already been inducted into
IAF at 11 Sqn based at Vadodara. The last would be delivered by August 2025.
The first Made-in-India C-295 is expected to be rolled out of the Final
Assembly Line facility at Vadodara by September 2026 and the remaining by
August 2031.
Indian
Light Tank: Indian
Light Tank (ILT) ‘Zorawar’ has achieved a major milestone by firing a number of
rounds at different ranges at an altitude of more than 4200m (High Altitude
Location) with consistently accurate results. This was subsequent to the Phase
I trial in desert environment in September 2024. This light tank has been
defined, designed and developed by Combat Vehicles Research & Development
Establishment, the Chennai based laboratory of DRDO for the Indian Army. It is
manufactured by the industry partner Larsen & Toubro Precision Engineering
& Systems. During the field trials conducted in the desert terrain, the
Light Tank demonstrated “exceptional performance, efficiently meeting all the
intended objectives”.