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In a significant push for indigenisation, the Indian Navy has issued 22 proposals valued at approximately ?2,200 crore for defense acquisitions over the past two years, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan announced on Tuesday.
At the curtain-raiser for the third edition of the Indian Navys Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar, Swavlamban 2024, Vice Admiral Swaminathan noted that of the 22 Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) proposals, 13 have already been converted into acquisition contracts worth ?1,194 crore.
These initiatives are part of a broader strategy involving 171 projects selected from 2,000 challenges presented to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and startups since the launch of the Swavlamban initiative in 2022. The Indian Navy aims to engage these sectors to identify indigenous, innovative solutions that can fill technological gaps and develop next-generation weapons, sensors, and other systems.
The upcoming seminar will be held over two days from October 28 at Bharat Mandapam. During the event, Vice Admiral Swaminathan highlighted the establishment of two task forces focused on specific technological issues, which will work alongside the in-house Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC) to expedite collaboration with MSMEs and startups.
One task force is dedicated to exploring future and niche technologies, including fuses, radars, quantum computing, interface devices, and weapon technologies, along with the indigenisation of munitions.
Emphasizing the Navys commitment to increasing indigenous content in the manufacturing of maritime platforms, Vice Admiral Swaminathan mentioned that for the latest ship currently under construction, indigenous content could rise to 90%. He noted that while some weapons are still imported, most components related to float and movement are now produced in India. Currently, 63 ships of various categories are being built by defense public sector undertakings and private industry.
Additionally, the Indian Navy plans to propose the acquisition of a 6-megawatt diesel engine to the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Vice Admiral Swaminathan underscored the need for India to indigenise its warship propulsion systems, which have traditionally relied on imports from Russia and Ukraine, especially amid ongoing global supply chain disruptions.
Commodore SK Singh, Officer-in-Charge of TDAC, highlighted that the NIIO seminar will focus on future warfare, emerging technologies, and strengthening the indigenous defense ecosystem. The plenary sessions will address fostering an innovative culture, linking technology to national security, and enhancing domestic defense product manufacturing.
During the seminar, the Indian Navy will present seven to eight new challenges for industry participants to seek solutions. It will also host its inaugural Naval Hackathon, addressing problem statements related to "speech separation," drone swarm coordination, navigation, real-time tracking of aerial objects, and maritime situational awareness.
The Swavlamban 3.0 document will be released, and innovators contributing to the initiative will be recognized. |
