Indian Firms Showcase Aatmanirbharta, Display Locally Made Weapons, Systems at Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference

Date:

New Delhi: Characterised by a firm export push under a multi-pronged self-reliance drive to cut back on imports, Indian vendors from the defence industry on September 26 put up a display of an array of locally produced weapons and systems before 30 countries participating in 13th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC).

Organised by the Army Design Bureau, Indian Army in partnership with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), the Defence Equipment and Technology display at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi on September 26-27, 2023, provided a valuable opportunity for the Indian defence industry to showcase their offerings to influential stakeholders from the Indo-Pacific region. The exhibitionโ€™s focus was on the Mobility,  Armament & Ammunition, Survivability, Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), Counter โ€“ Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) and Robotics.

ads

With a variety of drones, artillery guns, unmanned ground vehicles, surveillance gear and armoured personnel carriers underscoring advances in the defence manufacturing sector, the drone exhibits included loitering munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, multi-payload drones and nano UAVs.

At the Defence Equipment and Technology display, Tata Advanced Systems Limited showcased its ALS-50 loitering munition that has been delivered to the Indian Air Force. Each ALS-50 can carry six high explosive pre-fragmented warheads, and 100 units have been delivered to IAF with more on order, officials aware of the matter said.

Greater Noida-based IDR Research and Development showcased two types of nano UAVs, Doot and Parush which have been bought by the army for its counterterrorism units deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. The palm-sized Doot weighs 350 grams.

Also on display were Kalyani Groupโ€™s Bharat 150 multi-mission drones and ideaForgeโ€™s Switch UAVs for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The other military hardware showcased included Kalyani Strategic Systemsโ€™ MaRG 155mm/39-calibre artillery guns with shoot and scoot capability, the Bharat 155mm/52-calibre ultra-light howitzers, the Garuda 105mm/37-calibre guns, long-range observation systems, and wheeled and tracked unmanned ground vehicles.

big bang

Skylark Labs showcased its AI based solutions to foresee emerging threats. Showcasing indigenous mobility solutions, Mahindra Defence displayed its range of armoured light specialist vehicles, DCM Shriram Defence displayed Zebu โ€“ Multi Role Armoured Vehicles while Ashok Leyland exhibited GTV 6X6 vehicle which evinced  keen interest. Also on display was Toyota Kirloskar Motorโ€™s iconic Hilux which was recently delivered to Indian Army.

Other prominent Indian exhibitors at the Defence Equipment and Technology display included Big Bang Boom Solutions, Shoghi Communications, Phoenix Group, Adani Defence, L&T Defence, SMPP, MKU, Zen Technologies, FCTecNrgy, Aimtrex, IIO Technologies, Airbornics Defence & Space, Almerio and Scandron.

huges

According to experts, Indiaโ€™s defence export target of Rs 35,000 crore by 2024-25 is achievable. India is currently exporting military hardware to more than 85 countries, with around 100 domestic firms involved. Its exports include missiles, artillery guns, rockets, armoured vehicles, offshore patrol vessels, personal protective gear, a variety of radars, surveillance systems and ammunition. Indiaโ€™s military exports have risen sharply, and imports have recorded a drop on the back of policy initiatives and reforms. Exports grew 23 times between 2013-14 and 2022-23 while the spending on imported weapons and systems dropped from 46% of the total expenditure in 2018-19 to 36.7% in December 2022.

More like this

Supply Chain Disruption Grounds 102 Aircraft in India

New Delhi: The government revealed that 102 aircraft are...

No Proposal to Make Old Chandigarh Airport Building Operational: Civil Aviation Ministry

New Delhi: Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari asked Parliament whether...

Pivotal Milestone: Kaveri Turbofan Engine Approved for Inflight Testing

New Delhi: In a significant advancement for India's aerospace...

IIT-Madras Opens New AMOLED Research Centre for Developing Next-Gen Display Technologies

Chennai: IIT-Madras has inaugurated a new AMOLED Research Centre...

HFCL Inaugurates Defence Manufacturing Facility in Hosur to Boost Domestic Defence Manufacturing

New Delhi:  HFCL Limited, a leading technology enterprise and...

GRSE Honoured for Leadership Excellence at 14th ICC PSE Excellence Awards 2024

Kolkata: Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman and Managing...

OrbitAIDโ€™s Patented SIDRP Technology Successfully Clears Zero-Gravity Test in Florida

Chennai: Validating its patented Standard Interface for Docking and...

Indian Armed Forces Deploy BonV Aeroโ€™s Air Orca eVTOLs to Enhance Logistics in High-Altitude Regions

New Delhi: In a significant step toward modernising their...
Indian Navy Special EditionLatest Issue