‘Self-reliance is the only mantra’

Self-reliance was the only mantra for meeting the requirements of the Indian Navy and the Navy’s plan for indigenisation has been chalked out meticulously, its chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said at the DefExpo near here on Wednesday.

Four Expectations

Speaking at a seminar titled “Bolstering ‘Make in India’ in Defence Sector” at the Union Ministry of Defence’s DefExpo at Thiruvidanthai near here, Admiral Lanba said the Navy had four primary expectations from the private industry looking to collaborate for defence deals.

Delivery on time, cost-effectiveness, quality and performance and lifetime sustenance are the four primary expectations the Navy had for the partners looking to provide assets to the force, Mr. Lanba said.

During his speech, Pierre de Bausset, President and Managing Director of Airbus Group India, said instead of focusing on everything, India should focus on sectors it was good at. Amber Dubey, KPMG India’s Head, Aerospace and Defence, said there was a need for revision of the payment structure to private companies.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of State Subhash Bhamre too joined the discussion later during the session. Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat was also present.

ToT of DRDO

The transfer of technology (ToT) of 10 developments of the DRDO to industry players was made at the Defexpo venue here and a commemorative stamp to mark the diamond jubilee of the State-owned organisation was released.

The technology relating to Astra missile system of DRDL was transferred to Bharat Dynamics Limited in Hyderabad, Varunastra torpedo to BDL, and anti-thermal grenade to Pune Ordnance Factory.