In a significant advance towards enhancing India’s defence self-reliance, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully transferred technologies related to nine advanced systems to ten domestic industries. This milestone was achieved on June 7, facilitated by the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) in Ahilyanagar. This initiative aligns with the Indian government’s ongoing efforts under the #AatmanirbharBharat campaign, which aims to bolster indigenous manufacturing and reduce dependency on foreign imports.
Complementing this technology transfer, VRDE also forged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with COEP Technological University. This partnership is geared towards fostering collaborative research and development in emerging technologies, aiming to create a robust linkage between academia and defence manufacturing. The focus lies in nurturing innovation and accelerating the development of new products that meet contemporary defence needs.
The technologies that were handed over predominantly concentrate on land systems and mobile weapon platforms, areas wherein VRDE has made substantial progress in recent years. According to the latest report from the Ministry of Defence, India’s reliance on foreign imports for defence has markedly decreased from 65% in 2015 to approximately 45% in 2023.
Furthermore, India’s domestic defence production reached an impressive Rs 1.27 lakh crore in the financial year 2023-24, with projections estimating it could rise to Rs 1.75 lakh crore in the current fiscal year. The government has set an ambitious target of achieving Rs 3 lakh crore in indigenous production by 2029, indicating a strong commitment to developing a self-sufficient defence manufacturing base.
Experts argue that this academic collaboration is expected to play a crucial role in realizing these ambitious objectives. Collaborations like the one between VRDE and COEP are projected to potentially reduce development costs by up to 30%, while also speeding up deployment timelines. A study from 2024 published in Defence Technology corroborates this approach, emphasizing the valuable impact of university-industry partnerships on innovations in defence.
The Ministry of Defence has expressed optimism regarding ongoing technology development and the sharing of knowledge by DRDO and its institutes, which are set to amplify the operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces. The dual emphasis on industrial and academic collaboration highlights India’s aim not only to achieve self-reliance but to position itself as a competitive global supplier in the ever-evolving defence landscape.
