New Delhi: India’s defence procurement practices is under scrutiny once again. Despite making significant strides in indigenising defence production, the decision to procure an additional 73,000 SiG-716 rifles from the US manufacturer Sig Sauer reflects the harsh reality – to meets its critical requirements, the Indian military remains reliant on foreign arms. The repeat order for SiG-716 rifles has sparked intense debate.
Leading this discussion is Vivek Krishnan, CEO of Bengaluru-based SSS Defence. Voicing strong criticism of the government’s continued reliance on foreign-made weapons, particularly in light of the much-touted “Make-in-India” initiative, Vivek Krishnan’s challenge to the Indian military is not merely a critique but a call to action—a demand for fairness and a level playing field for indigenous manufacturers.
Small-arms manufacturer SSS Defence has indigenously designed and developed two sniper rifle prototypes for the armed forces and in July 2024 exported its Saber Sniper Rifle (.338 Lapua Magnum) to a friendly foreign country for the first time, making India an exporter of sniper rifles. The company has bagged contracts for the supply of nearly USD 50 million worth of ammunition from multiple friendly countries. In 2021, SSS Defence had edged out Israeli competition to win a contract to upgrade the Indian Army’s AK-47 assault rifles.
In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his dissatisfaction Vivek Krishnan made his frustration clear without holding back. Underscoring a growing sentiment within India’s private defence sector—one of disappointment and determination, Krishnan declared, “We’ve heard from the buyer for a long time that ‘we’re not there on metallurgy’ or ‘our designs are behind time.’ I say put an indigenous weapon of ours against a global benchmark in each caliber and test out. Make the results open like real serious armies do,” Krishnan declared.
In the past too, the Indian Army’s procurement practices have been surrounded by controversy. The latest order to procure additional SiG-716 rifles has only deepened concerns that the Indian government is undermining the very essence of the “Make-in-India” campaign and simultaneously sidelining domestic manufacturers in favour of foreign suppliers.
Extending his criticism beyond the latest procurement decision, Vivek Krishnan highlights a broader issue—the Indian government’s apparent reluctance to trust and invest in its homegrown talent.
“I wish the government had not acquired more of these. A private solicitation and insistence on Indian design and content would’ve easily thrown up a contender or many in fact. Testing the same against the in-service system would’ve been rather easy,” Vivek Krishnan commented. His comments reflect the frustration of many Indian defence firms that feel stifled by the lack of opportunities to prove their capabilities.
Unshaken despite the setbacks, Krishnan emphasised that SSS Defence is committed to staying in the game and continuing its efforts to develop world-class weapons. With resolve he asserted, “Now that it’s done, what can we do right? Most others would disband. Not us @sssdefence. We made a decision a long while ago to be the most fearless dog in this business. We shall still have a weapon for each caliber and the user to us is still the man in uniform. We will be global.” His words resonate with the determination and grit that have come to define India’s private defence sector.
Touching upon a critical issue—national pride, Vivek Krishnan’s statements also questions the erosion of pride in Indian-made products, particularly in the defence sector and his observations highlight the challenges faced by Indian manufacturers in gaining acceptance, both domestically and globally. “We lost that pride a long while ago by building substandard weapons in the government controlled space. If anything, the private sector is regaining some of the pride. But making good weapons and getting them accepted is a difficult task,” he noted.
Beyond criticism, Krishnan’s message while posing a challenge to the Indian military and government to reconsider their approach to defence procurement, also calls for transparency and fairness, one that seeks to elevate the standards of India’s defence procurement practices. Advocating for a system where indigenous weapons are given a fair chance to prove their worth on the global stage, he says, “Here’s the challenge – we’ve heard from the buyer for a long time that ‘we’re not there on metallurgy’ or ‘our designs are behind time.’ I say put an indigenous weapon of ours against a global benchmark in each caliber and test out. Make the results open like real serious armies do. Test protocols are clearly defined. It would be the best for both sides. How difficult is that?”
A rallying cry for change, Vivek Krishnan’s outspoken critique of the Indian government’s defence procurement policies is a bold statement that calls for the recognition and support of India’s indigenous defence capabilities. Navigating its path towards self-reliance in defence, India should hear the voices like Krishnan’s as these voices will be crucial in shaping a future where Indian-made weapons stand on equal footing with their global counterparts. Whether the Indian government and military will rise to the challenge and embrace the indigenous potential, remains to be seen.
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