The much-awaited five-day-long DefExpo 2022 at Gandhinagar from October 18 to 22 is expected to break all past records and showcase the might of the Indian defence industry in keeping with the objective ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.
The DefExpo is expected to give a major boost to Indian start-ups, PSU and private industry, and help them keep their heads high in keeping with the spirit of Atmanirbharta or self-reliance in the military sector.
Some of the key takeaways of the biennial defence show would be the all-time high participation of over 1,300 exhibitors and the signing of close to 400 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth around ₹5,500 crore – more than double the number of MoUs (201) signed at the last DefExpo at Lucknow.
To be eligible for participation in the DefExpo 2022 the industry will have to meet the following eligibility criterion:
- Public Limited Company, Private Limited Company, Partnership Firm, Limited Liability Partnership, One Person Company, Sole Proprietorship registered as per applicable Indian Laws.
- The industry has to be owned and controlled by Indian citizens.
- The Industry with an excess of 49% foreign investment will not be eligible.
- Industry shall also possess or be in the process of acquiring a license/ development of products if the product/ technology under the project requires a license as per DIPP’s licensing policy.
- Companies/Organizations which have been debarred/ banned/ blacklisted or the business dealings with whom have been “suspended” / “put on hold” by the Ministry of Defence will not be eligible.
- Industry may apply in individual or Association of Persons (AOP) i.e. consortium of Indian Companies consisting of two or more than two undertaking joint and several liability.
Apart from this, some ten States will announce their individual policies to attract manufacturers. Already two defence corridors have also come up in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and appear to be doing well.
The DefExpo will also be hosting two conclaves — one for the Indian Ocean Region and the other for African nations. Towards this end, the Indian defence ministry has invited defence ministers from around 28 countries’ to showcase India’s prowess and transformation from being one of the biggest consumers to an exporter of defence equipment.
The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), will be displaying a wide variety of 430 products strategic and tactical weapon systems, defence equipment and technologies like radars, sonars, missiles, aircraft, etc. some of which will be displayed at the DRDO Pavilion, DefExpo22 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The DRDO ethos can be briefly summed up in three 3Ds (DRDO, Designed and Developed). These will include initiatives such as Technology Development Fund, Dare to Dream, DIA- Centres of Excellence and other similar schemes to support academia, startups, MSMEs and large industries to continuously upgrade technology readiness levels of present and futuristic technologies.
DRDO will provide numerous static displays, live demonstrations, seminars as well as immersive experience zones spread across three locations including the Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre, Helipad Exhibition Centre, and Sabarmati River Front.
The DRDO Pavilion at Hall no. 10 (Helipad Exhibition Centre) will be segmented in 17 display zones showcasing 376 products namely — engines & propulsion, aerospace & aeronautics (UAVs, fighter aircraft, aircraft for surveillance etc.), sensors, devices & advanced electronics, naval weapons & systems (EW systems and Sensors), armoured vehicles & land systems, armament, guns & ammunition, materials, missiles (Cruise, MBRLs, AAM, ATGM & MRSAM), BrahMos, Soldier Support and dual-use technologies (Soldier support, LS products, Fire protection, Firefighting, Fuel & Energy, Food products etc.), Experience Zone (Simulator, Virtual Reality and Audio-Visual), software AI and cyber, academic outreach, industry outreach and public interface.
This apart, several technologies developed for land-based, naval and air-based systems will be showcased through experience zones – a closed room immersive cinematic experience. This includes an Advanced Combat Aircraft (AMCA) simulator and other augmented and virtual reality Naval, Land and Air product simulators. A holographic deck providing a 3D experience of over 30 defence products will be present at the hall to gain insights into the intricacies of weapon designs.
DRDO’s sprawling 1200 sq. mtr. Helipad Exhibition Centre will display actual life-sized products including Border Surveillance System (BOSS), Laser Fence System (LFS), IRDE Tableau, BrahMos Air Version Missile, Mobile Autonomous Launcher (MAL) for BrahMos, CBRN Water Purification System, Infantry Combat Vehicle with Composite Hull (CICV), Advanced Composites Modular Bridge System(ACMBS), 155mmX52 Cal Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), CBRN Water Purification System, CBRN Recce Vehicles, 70 T Tank Transporter, Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP), Prahar Missile, Rudram III Missile, Quick reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM), Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM), Mounted Gun System (MSG), and Unmanned Ground Mobile Platform (UGMP).
Likewise at the Sabarmati River Front DRDO will present a live demo as well as a static display of – Portable Diver Detection Sonar (PDDS) with Electro-Optic System (EOS), Imaging Sonar ‘CHITR’, Autonomous Survey Vehicle – Inland, Autonomous Survey Vehicle -Coastal (ASV- Coastal) and Weapon Mounted Surface Vehicle, AIR Independent Propulsion System, Virtual Reality based countermeasure deployment simulator, TAL Torpedo, Portable Diver Detection Sonar, Wet End Unit, Counter Drone System for IN – D4 Radar, Soft Kill System and Hard Kill System, and Passive IRSS Device.
Some of DRDO’s actual high-value products on display will include – VIBHAV- Anti Tank Point Attack Munition, VISHAL- Anti Tank Bar Mine, PRACHAND- Anti Tank, 9 x 19 mm Machine Pistol- ASMI, Mine Field marking Equipment Mk II, Light Tank, Daksh Defuser, MBT Arjun Mk-1A, Light Machine Gun, Pralay, QRSAM, Carbine- 5.56x 45 mm, AIP System- Air Independent Propulsion, TAPAS, ASTRA Mk-I, and LCA Mk2 amongst others.
The Department of Defense Production’s flagship pavilion, the India Pavilion, will promote India’s vision for 2047 and display the development of domestic defence products, start-ups, and cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence in defence.
As things stand Africa appears to be a big potential market for defence products – arms and equipment ‘made in India’, hence a concerted effort has been made to attract decision makers and influencers from the continent nations to attend the DefExpo.
One of the highlights of the 12th DefExpo will be the 2nd edition of the India-Africa Defence Dialogue, in which representatives from more than 50 African nations will participate.
A separate Indian Ocean Region plus (IOR+) conclave with the participation of approximately 40 countries is also on the anvil.
The first three days of the five-day event will be open only to businesses, while October 21 and 22 will be open to the general public.
-The writer is a seasoned media professional with over three decades of experience in print, electronic, and web media. He is presently Editor of Taazakhabar News
