Progress on the ‘Strategic Partnership’ policy

According to reliable sources in New Delhi, the Defence Minister Arun Jaitley has directed that the strategic partnership (SP) approach involving private industry in major defence manufacturing programmes “must be progressed without further procrastination.” It is learnt that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has urged that this be carried out expeditiously. Such a major policy decision has remained dormant since the past eighteen months, even though informal discussions were held with shortlisted private companies during the ministership of Manohar Parrikar. It is learnt that senior private sector companies have been invited for formal discussions at the MoD and these include Larsen & Toubro, the Tata Group, Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance Defence, Bharat Forge and the Adani Group.

These major Indian companies would be invited to work with international partners for the manufacture of new submarines, a naval utility helicopter, armoured fighting vehicles and most importantly, a new single-engine fighter.