India to stop import of 101 key military items
SELF-RELIANCE Five-year embargo on key purchases including missiles, aircraft, UAVS
nNEW DELHI: India announced on Sunday that it will ban the import of 101 types of weapons and ammunition for the next five years — from artillery guns to light military transport aircraft and conventional submarines to long-range land attack cruise missiles — in a significant step on the long road towards achieving self-reliance in the defence sector.
The detailed list of equipment published by the defence ministry has spelled out that the import embargo will kick in between December 2020 and December 2025 for different categories of military hardware.
The government has also created a separate budget for the purchase of locally produced military hardware.
“Our aim is to apprise the Indian defence industry about the anticipated requirements of the armed forces so that they are better prepared to realise the goal of indigenisation,” said defence minister Rajnath Singh, who made the announcement on Twitter.
Later in the day, the defence minister said at an online event that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present a new outline for a self-reliant India in his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15.
He also referred to his announcement on defence import ban and said the Modi government was taking “big and
ATMANIRBHAR GAMBIT
Defence minister Rajnath Singh said the import embargo is meant to spur the Indian defence industry into meeting the anticipated requirements of the armed forces
WHAT’S BANNED
The list includes artillery guns, missile destroyers, ship-fired cruise missiles, light combat aircraft, light transport aircraft, communication satellites, basic trainer aircraft, multi-barrel rocket launchers, a variety of radars, assault rifles, sniper rifles, mini UAVS.
MAKE IN INDIA PUSH
India will have to compulsorily develop technology for the defence systems and boost indigenous military and defence weapons and equipment.
MONEY INVOLVED
Singh said the government estimates contracts worth almost ₹4 lakh crore will be placed upon the domestic industry in 6-7 yrs. He said the ministry has split the capital budget for 2020-21 between domestic and foreign procurement, with ₹52,000 crore set for domestic procurement this fiscal.
LIST TO BE REVIEWED EVERY YEAR
Key equipment Import embargo from Light combat aircraft December 2020 Conventional submarines December 2021
Artillery ammunition December 2022
Basic trainer aircraft December 2023
Land attack cruise missiles December 2025