New Delhi: Against the backdrop of procuring Rafale fighter aircraft from France, India’s defence secretary Dr Ajay Kumar told ETV Bharat’s Senior Correspondent Gautam Debroy in an exclusive tête-à-tête that India is also in process of designing and development of fifth-generation fighter aircraft Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
Classifying Rafale as the 4.5th generation fighter aircraft, Dr Kumar said that development of AMCA is on track and will be available in a few years.
Asserting that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has the capability to undertake world-class manufacturing, Dr Kumar said HAL is now emerging as a significant industrial player with both design and development capabilities as well as manufacturing capability.
Referring to the ban on imported defence items, Dr Kumar said that it is a historic decision because it has demonstrated the great political determination of the Government at the highest level to source defence equipment from domestic industry.
Taking ahead Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, Dr Kumar said that India has given two major thrusts in recent times including promoting greater participation of private industry while strengthening the defence PSUs. And moving away from licensed based production to the development of indigenous technologies in defence.
He said that launch of “Sarthak” will deter people with ill-intent and at the same time reassures maritime community, who look up to the Indian Coast Guard as “Saviours at sea”, as they are aware that Indian Coast Guard will swiftly respond to any distress call or life-threatening situation at sea.
Talking on India’s fight against COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Kumar said that country’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) came forward and did some critical innovations to fight the pandemic.
The defence secretary also divulged in detail about the strategy being undertaken by the Defence Ministry to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Excerpts of the Interview:
Q: What is your take on the induction of Rafel in our mission of Atma Nirbhar Bharat?
Ans:We are presently making fourth-generation fighter aircraft, i.e. Tejas in the country. It is among the top fighter aircraft in its class. This is totally indigenously designed and indigenously manufactured. We are also in process of designing and development of fifth-generation fighter aircraft AMCA. Development of AMCA is on track and will be available in a few years. Rafale has some features which are more advanced than Tejas. In that sense, it can be classified as a 4.5th generation.
While we make Indian aircraft which has capabilities similar to Rafale. Our endeavour in Atma Nirbhar campaign is that we should be able to produce best in class equipment in India, for our Armed Forces and also for export.
Q: Looking into the ability Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), can India make Rafale fighter jets in the country?
Ans: I have no doubt in HAL’s capability to undertake world-class manufacturing. HAL is now emerging as a significant industrial player with both design/development capabilities as well as manufacturing capability.
HAL has several aerospace platforms which it has designed in-house. These include Advanced Light Helicopter, Light Combat Helicopter, Light Utility Helicopter in rotary-wing class.
In the fixed-wing class, it has Basic Jet Trainer which is totally in-house design and development of HAL and LCA where it provides support to design of ADA.
It is also in advanced stages of design and development of Intermediate Jet Trainer. It has also indigenized most of Dornier aircraft.
HAL is also in process of getting civil certification for Advanced Light Helicopter and Dornier thereby marking its entry in the civil aircraft sector as well.
Q: Do you believe that India’s ban on 101 defence items for import, is a big push for Atma Nirbhar Bharat?
Ans:This is a historical decision and will provide a big encouragement to the domestic industry who can focus on developing these items. The best thing is that they can now invest long term in these equipment and make the best equipment in this class as they know that these items will be procured from domestic industry.
It is a historic decision because it has demonstrated the great political determination of the Government at the highest level to source defence equipment from domestic industry.
It also demonstrates great trust in the ability of our industry to be able to rise to the challenge and deliver.
Q: Where does India stand, if we talk about Chinese defence capacity?
Ans:We are continuously evaluating the threat to our security and taking steps necessary to ensure that our sovereignty is not endangered. This is an ongoing process.
Our defence preparedness involves decisions in the context of the international security environment and the domestic constraints and motivations.
The contours of these decisions are influenced by the context of international politics and deal with threats and challenges of the alliances, the balance of power, nuclear weapons, transnational terrorism, and war and peace. Based on assessment made, the decision regarding modernisation of armed forces, procurement of weapons are made.
Q: Built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), India has recently got Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Sarthak.’ How will it help India’s maritime security?
Ans: Launching of “Sarthak” must be looked at as a good development in indigenous capacity to build OPV every time meeting the deadline in delivery. It will be deployed in the Exclusive Economic Zone. Presence of additional IndianCoast Guard unit at sea serves dual objectives of “Deterrence” and “Reassurance”.
It deters people with ill-intent and at the same time reassures maritime community, who look up to the Indian Coast Guard as “Saviours at sea”, as they are aware that Indian Coast Guard will swiftly respond to any distress call or life-threatening situation at sea.
“Sarthak” has been designed & built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in line with the PM’s vision of ‘Make in India’.
It was reassuring to witness the growing strength of Indian Coast Guard, and capabilities of Indian Shipbuilding industry, a strong supporting pillar for production and maintenance of ships of Indian Maritime Forces.
Goa Shipyard is quite commendable in meeting the timelines of the contract despite the pandemic COVID-19. Sarthak is the 4th in the series of 5 OPVs.
In addition to the 05 OPV project, 52 ships are at various stages of construction at different Indian Shipyards and 16 Advanced Light Helicopters are under production at M/s HAL, Bengaluru, which will provide the added strength to the surveillance capabilities of Indian Coast Guard to deal with the dynamic maritime challenges.
Q: The Government of India has been emphasizing Make in India and Atma Nirbhar Bharat in the Defence sector. Tell us some of your major initiatives?
Ans: Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, "Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not about being self-contained or being closed to the world, it is about being self-sustaining and self-generating."
Over the years, transparent and streamlined Procurement Procedures, 7Production Policies and ‘Make in India’ initiatives have provided a significant stimulus to demand indigenous products. The recent call for “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” has provided further impetus to realise the goal of self-reliance.
Two major thrusts in recent times have been promoting greater participation of private industry while strengthening the defence PSUs. And the second is moving away from licensed based production to the development of indigenous technologies in defence.
Several steps have been taken in this direction and we hope to see results in coming months and years. While there is a large number of measures, let me mention a few.
In the private sector, many engineering majors have diversified and joined the Defence sector.
More than 460 licenses have so far been issued to private companies for the production of defence equipment.
Over 8,000 MSMEs provide strength and vibrancy to the defence supply chain.
In May 2020 Department of Military Affairs (DMA), Ministry of Defence (MoD) has promulgated a list of 101 items for which there is an embargo on the import as per deadlines indicated in the list.
This is a big opportunity for the Indian defence industry. The list of 101 embargoed items comprises of not just simple parts but also some high technology weapon systems like artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, transport aircraft, light combat helicopters (LCHs), etc.
Further, the government has also restricted the floating of global tenders above the value of Rs 200 crores thereby enhancing the opportunities for the domestic defence industry.
Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 has been unveiled on September 28, 2020.
Changes in DAP 2020 enhancement of indigenous content, use of indigenous raw material, software & components and conduct of trials & acceptance tests etc.