The Indian Navy is making significant strides in indigenization and innovation, with over 250 projects focused on design and development currently underway. This initiative is crucial in mitigating supply chain disruptions that often hinder military projects.
Sources reveal that 262 design and development projects are in various stages of evaluation, with 171 already contracted under the Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme. A recent DefConnect 4.0 event saw commitments of ₹132.5 crore for the Navy's innovation efforts, highlighting the strong financial backing for these endeavors.
Major equipment indigenization is being pursued through 97 projects under the Technology Development Fund (TDF), Make in India, and Revenue routes, amounting to approximately ₹850 crore. The iDEX platform, launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Defence, encourages innovation in defence and aerospace by engaging entrepreneurs and innovators to create advanced solutions for the Indian military.
The Navy's focus on indigenous design and development dates back to 1965, driven by the belief that a strong domestic industry is essential for a global maritime force. This commitment has been reinforced by recent geopolitical events and supply chain vulnerabilities.
"Importing technology is not a sustainable option for a rising global force such as the Indian Navy," a source emphasized. To achieve complete self-reliance, the Navy is pursuing indigenization from component level upwards, leveraging the potential of the Indian industry.
The Indian shipbuilding industry has seen substantial growth, with 63 of 65 Indian Navy ships currently under construction being built at Indian shipyards. This progress is evident in the achievement of approximately 90%, 60%, and 50% indigenous content in the "Float, Move, and Fight" categories, respectively.
Indigenization Units in Visakhapatnam and Mumbai, under the Centre for Indigenisation & Self Reliance (CISR) in Coimbatore, are leading a "bottom-up" approach to indigenization. CISR has partnered with over 30 industries to assess their capabilities for specific indigenization requirements.
A dedicated indigenization Roll-on Plan for 2023-26 is in place, with around 5,000 items indigenized so far. Roadmaps for indigenizing foreign-origin ships like Vikramaditya, Talwar class frigates, P-75 Scorpene submarines, and Deepak-class tankers are also progressing.
The iDEX scheme has received over 9,000 applications from startups and MSMEs, indicating a growing defence ecosystem. The Indian Navy's Swavlamban document, Srijan Portal, and Positive Indigenisation Lists provide a roadmap for industry participation in defence production.
The upcoming Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) Seminar, Swavlamban, scheduled for October 28-29 in New Delhi, will showcase the achievements of the Navy, sister services, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in fostering a collaborative indigenous ecosystem. This year's edition has seen over 2,000 proposals from the Indian industry, translated into 155 challenges for prototype development.
