A top Indian Army officer voiced serious concerns Wednesday about the presence of Chinese components in drones being supplied to the armed forces. This follows warnings from intelligence agencies regarding the use of these parts in drones intended for border deployments.
Speaking at the "Bharat Drone Varta - Road to Indigenisation" event organized by FICCI, Major General CS Mann, Additional Director General of the Army Design Bureau, stressed the need for transparency from drone manufacturers. "Since it's a matter of national security concern, there have to be truthful claims of indigenous capabilities," he stated, emphasizing the importance of honesty as a starting point in addressing the challenges.
This call for transparency comes in the wake of revelations that the Ministry of Defence halted an order for 200 logistics drones from Dhaksha Unmanned Systems Pvt Ltd in August due to allegations of the company using Chinese components. Earlier this year, the ministry also issued a letter cautioning industry bodies like FICCI, ASSOCHAM, and SIDM to be vigilant about the use of Chinese parts in drones supplied by Dhaksha and two other companies.
The concerns extend beyond supply chain disruptions. Maj Gen Mann highlighted the national security implications, citing the recent incident of pager bombs in Lebanon where explosives were reportedly concealed within pagers ordered by Hezbollah. This incident underscores the potential vulnerabilities associated with foreign-made components in critical equipment.
To address these concerns, the Army is collaborating with the Drone Federation of India to promote indigenous drone development. Maj Gen Mann emphasized the need to "look under the hood" and prioritize complete indigenisation of critical drone components like autopilots, secure communication systems, and EO/IR payloads.
Recognizing the financial challenges associated with research and development, Maj Gen Mann assured industry representatives that the Army is committed to funding indigenous drone development through initiatives like the Army Technology Board. He emphasized the availability of direct funding and encouraged companies to actively participate in the indigenisation effort.
This push for transparency and indigenous drone development reflects the Indian Army's growing concern over national security and its commitment to self-reliance in critical defense technologies.
