2023 -- A Landmark year for Ministry of Defence :::: Focus on Self-reliance that is - ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in Defence and Armed Forces modernisation

2023 was a landmark year for Ministry of Defence (MoD) as giant strides were made towards realising the vision of the Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to create a strong, secure, self-reliant, and inclusive India, says an official release.

Efforts to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence and Armed Forces modernisation surged ahead with renewed thrust.

From successfully test-firing BrahMos missile to the induction of INS Tarmugli to the induction of the first C-295 aircraft to the Indian Air Force, the year has proven to be a successful year for the defence sector. 

Record Defence Production: 

The value of defence production in Financial Year (FY) 2022-23 crossed the figure of Rs one lakh crore for the first time ever. It was Rs 95,000 crore in FY 2021-22. The Government is continuously working with defence industries and their associations to remove the challenges faced by them and promote defence production in the country. 

A number of policy reforms have been taken to achieve the objective of ease of doing business, including the integration of MSMEs and start-ups into the supply chain. Due to these policies, the industries, including MSMEs and start-ups, are forthcoming in defence design, development & manufacturing and there is almost a 200% increase in the number of defence licenses issued to the industries in the last 7-8 years by the Government.   

Record Defence Exports: 

Through consistent policy initiatives of the Government and tremendous contribution of the defence industry, defence exports reached an all-time high of approx. Rs 16,000 crore in FY 2022-23, almost Rs 3,000 crore more than the previous financial year. It a rise of over 10 times since 2016-17. India is now exporting to over 85 countries. Indian industry has shown its capability of design and development to the world, with 100 firms exporting defence products at present. 

Major platforms being exported include Dornier-228, 155 mm Advanced Towed Artillery Guns, Brahmos Missiles, Akash Missile System, Radars, Simulators, Mine Protected Vehicles, Armoured Vehicles, PINAKA Rockets & Launchers, Ammunitions, Thermal Imagers, Body Armours, besides Systems, Line Replaceable Units and Parts & components of Avionics and Small Arms. 

There is growing global demand of LCA-Tejas, Light Combat Helicopters, Aircraft Carrier, MRO activities etc.

 

Separate Budget for Domestic Industry: 

Record 75 per cent (approx. Rs one lakh crore) of the defence capital procurement budget was earmarked for domestic industry in FY 2023-24, up from 68 per cent in 2022-23. 

This was announced by the Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh during 14th Aero India in Bengaluru. 

In FY 2023-24, Ministry of Defence was allocated a total Budget of Rs 5.94 lakh crore, which is 13.18 per cent of the total budget (Rs 45.03 lakh crore). Capital outlay pertaining to modernisation and infrastructure development was increased to Rs 1.63 lakh crore.

Blogger and Rajnath Singh 

PM’s Tejas Sortie: 

In November, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi flew a sortie in ‘Tejas’ Twin-Seater Light Combat Fighter aircraft designed, developed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru. The sortie was carried out from the Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment, Bengaluru. 

During the 30-minute sortie, capabilities of Tejas were demonstrated to the Prime Minister. It was the first time an Indian Prime Minister flew a fighter aircraft sortie. The Prime Minister also visited the production facilities of LCA Tejas and was briefed about the technology intensive work being done at HAL towards realising the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

 

LCA Tejas: HAL handed over the first twin-seater Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’ to the IAF in the presence of Rakha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in Bengaluru. It is a light weight, all weather multi-role 4.5 generation aircraft, designed to support the training requirements of the IAF and augment itself to the role of a fighter in case of necessity. 

It is an amalgamation of contemporary concepts and technologies such as relaxed static-stability, quadraplex fly-by-wire flight control, carefree manoeuvring, advanced glass cockpit, integrated digital avionics systems and advanced composite materials for the airframe. The IAF placed an order for 83 LCAs with HAL.