India’s Defense Manufacturing Sector: What are the challenges and opportunities?
The Defence Engineering business does not manufacture any explosives nor ammunition of any kind, including cluster munitions or anti-personnel landmines or nuclear weapons or components for such munitions. The business also does not customise any delivery systems for such munitions.
The Indian Defence Manufacturing Sector is ahead of the inflexion point after substantial evolutions in acquisition policies and procedures. A few significant initiatives include priority to procurement of capital items of Buy Indian (IDDM) category from domestic sources under Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020.
Capital Acquisitions over the Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) (2012-27) is estimated at INR 22.5 tr, with over 4 tr opportunity for domestic industry in the period 2022-27. The Government has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for Capital Acquisition in FY23 for over Rs 2.71 lakh crore, out of which 99% of the procurement will be sourced from Indian industries in the coming years. There is a larger impetus on exports, Government has targeted exports of USD 5 bil by 2025 in Defence Sector. (~ USD 2 bil achieved in FY23 till date)
While the above represent significant opportunities for the Defence Manufacturing Industry, attention is required on implementation of the same in true intent and spirit to facilitate growth of the Industry and to become truly Aatmanirbhar in Defence. Simplification and speeding up of the acquisition process and implementation of Quality Cum Cost Based Selection (QCBS) in Defence Acquisition are critically required for achieving success. For building platforms comprising of system of systems we need to accelerate Make Projects and help building Industry’s own IP. Self-reliance in Defence product development would be accelerated by incentivizing higher indigenous content and implementing the policy intent of providing 25% of Defence R&D budget for Industry.
Few challenges that the Defence manufacturing sector continue to face is high cost of capital for investments in advanced manufacturing infrastructure, huge investments required in R&D, stringent and cumbersome quality requirements, long gestation periods for contract realisation and lack of continuity in orders.
What is the need to focus on indigenous production? And what factors are favourable to domestic defense production?
India is one of the largest arms importers in the world, accounting for 11% of the total arms sales globally. Producing these requirements locally will not only achieve self-reliance in National Security but also provide huge employment and a significant multiplier to the domestic economy as work will flow down from the product OEMs to lower tiers of production. Any equipment indigenised will have the Know-how, Design and IP in the country and reduces external dependency for the upgrade and maintenance of the equipment thereby reducing the life cycle costs significantly. The ongoing geo political turmoil and conflicts has further emphasised the importance of indigenous production as external dependency reduces strategic autonomy.
The greatest favourable factor is the Government’s commitment to procure defence equipment from domestic industry. The planned Defence Capital Acquisitions are to the tune of Rs.15 Lakh Crore over the next decade and has a vision to enhance defence indigenisation from current levels of 35-40% to 70-75%. 75% of the Capital procurement budget (~ 1 Lakh Crs.) will be earmarked for domestic industry in 2023-24, up from 68% in 2022-23.
A strong MSME sector, a large technical manpower base and improving infrastructure and logistics in the country would also serve as enabling factors for domestic defence production.
What steps have been taken by the Government for the sector?
The Government has implemented several policy reforms and initiatives to promote indigenous production, The Government has released four Positive Indigenization Lists of over 411 items and three ‘Positive Indigenization Lists’ of over 3738 items of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), for which there would be an embargo on the import beyond the timelines indicated in the lists.
The Government has also worked towards enhancing Defence testing Infrastructure and making available Government test facilities for domestic industry, launched Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme by involving Start-ups & Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and launched an indigenization portal namely SRIJAN to facilitate supply of indigenously manufactured items to DPSUs by domestic Industry players including MSMEs
What is the role of Private Participation in Defence Manufacturing?
Historically, India’s defence production was mainly controlled by the public sector, with limited participation from private players. However, in recent years, the Indian government has taken several steps to encourage private sector participation in the defence industry. Today the Private Sector plays a significant role in defence manufacturing. Large industrial houses such as Tata and L&T have set up large facilities and capabilities in building contemporary defence platforms, systems and equipment. These larger OEMs are supported by a network of MSMEs that form part of their supply chain and are a critical element of the private defence manufacturing ecosystem. This system is complemented by a number of innovative and entrepreneurial start-ups that bring in innovation and new technology ideas into the ecosystem.
The private participation in defence sector has contributed immensely for defence manufacturing and noteworthy contributions are it has bought in Increased Competitiveness, despite Private Sector participants carry the load of depreciation & interest on recent investment in defence manufacturing infrastructure, their participation in defence manufacturing in India has brought about increased competition in the industry by bringing in innovation, operational efficiency and cost-effective solutions. This competition has forced the public sector companies to be more cost competitive, Technology Enhancement through bringing in contemporary technologies, by way of collaborations with foreign firms to access cutting-edge technologies as well as through in-house R&D which has helped India in its quest for self-reliance in defence manufacturing, Increased Production Capacity with their investment and expertise, private players have helped in setting up new and modern production facilities with Industry 4.0 enablement, thereby increasing the output of the sector, Employment Generation, through creation of new jobs and employment opportunities in the country. This has helped in increasing the contribution of the defence industry to the national economy and Indigenisation by bringing in technical expertise and in-house R&D, private players have been able to develop and manufacture defence equipment and systems locally, reducing India’s dependence on imports.
The Indian government has taken several steps to encourage private sector participation in the defence industry, and this is expected to continue in the coming years.
What is the way forward?
The government should continue to provide thrust on self-reliance by focusing on system of systems & platforms Development under Make 1 (Government funded development programs), building capabilities in design & technology development (IP Ownership), Departure from dependence on Govt. Owned organization for Design, Development, Production, ToT, Develop indigenous Defence solutions through maturing Indian industry – supported by Govt. for development & hand-held by the user and implementation of Merit based selection of Development Partner
In order to create a robust Defence Industrial Base the government can support by way of providing PLI schemes, Capital subsidies for investment in defence technology and manufacturing infrastructure, enhancement of defence testing infrastructure. Availability of highly-skilled workforce, creation of science & engineering infrastructure and imbibing Cultural factors with a focus on high quality will also foster the defence manufacturing ecosystem.
To promote R&D in Defence, government can incentivise investments in R&D through tax benefits, ensuring 25% of Government Defence R&D fund flowing to Industry, Start-ups & academy and providing supportive IP regimes. The acquisition process can be made faster and simplified by setting up of a professional Procurement Wing in MoD Acquisition, implementation of QCBS process and ensuring Time bound acquisition process with accountability for delays.
Can you provide an overview of L&T’s role in the defence industry, and how it has evolved over time?
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is the leading private sector player in the Indian defence industry with a significant presence in various segments of defence manufacturing and services. The company has been involved in defence production from 1980’s and has been working closely with the Indian government and the Armed Forces to design, develop, and manufacture a wide range of defence products.
L&T’s role in the defence industry includes designing and manufacturing armoured vehicles, artillery guns, rockets, missile systems, radars, electronic warfare systems, communication systems, and naval equipment, among others. The company has also played a crucial role in building naval ships and submarines for the Indian Navy.
In addition to its manufacturing capabilities, L&T also provides through life support for its various defence products. The company has significant investment in in-house R&D and has developed over 100 defence products through its own development efforts or by working together with DRDO.
Overall, L&T’s strong focus on research and development, as well as its close partnerships with the Indian Armed Forces and international defence companies, have helped it establish itself as a leading player in the Indian defence industry.
What are some of the challenges and considerations when designing and manufacturing defense and aerospace products, and how do you address them?
Clarity of user requirements, understanding of user deployment needs, technology shifts and product obsolescence are some of the challenges in designing defence equipment and systems. Rigid acquisition processes and lack of funding don’t permit a spiral development approach by which domestic industry can develop reliable defence equipment as it happens in many advanced countries. To be future ready for evolving role of disruptive technologies in warfare requires extensive collaboration between users, industry and researchers. and incentivizing R&D spend by the industry. Availability of a resolute supply chain by way of supportive environment for a MSME ecosystem through easier & cheaper access to capital and human skilling infrastructure is also a challenge.
At L&T we overcome these challenges by close interaction with User agencies, relying on simulation and digital techniques, working collaboratively with DRDO and supporting and developing a strong supply chain base.