India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem has undergone a dramatic transformation, but the country’s next challenge is to move beyond local manufacturing and establish ownership over the technologies powering its weapons and military platforms, according to Puneet Kaura, Managing Director and CEO of Samtel Avionics.&nbsp;Speaking to WION, Kaura highlighted the growing role of India’s private sector in building indigenous defence capabilities, while arguing that genuine self-reliance must ultimately be measured by control over intellectual property and critical technologies.&nbsp;For Kaura, the distinction between manufacturing and indigenous development is crucial. “Make in India is one part of it. I would say Design in India is more important,” he said, emphasising the need for Indian companies to develop technologies themselves instead of depending primarily on foreign technology transfers.&nbsp;This becomes particularly important during conflict, when dependence on overseas suppliers can expose vulnerabilities in military supply chains.&nbsp;Kaura also pointed to India’s changing position in the international defence market. Indian companies are no longer looking only at supplying the country’s armed forces, but increasingly at developing products capable of competing globally.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-signs-45-7-million-deal-to-buy-us-javelin-anti-tank-missiles-for-army-more-details-inside-1787909729092">India signs $45.7 million deal to buy US Javelin anti-tank missiles for army: More details inside</a>&nbsp;“After Operation Sindoor, Indian defence products have become battle-tested and the world is looking at us,” Kaura said, highlighting how operational validation can strengthen international confidence in Indian-made equipment.&nbsp;Samtel itself is expanding beyond avionics and cockpit display systems into emerging strategic technologies. Kaura revealed that the company is developing indigenous electronic warfare capabilities.&nbsp;“Another thing we are looking at is the jamming and intercepting technology, which can also be used across the border,” he said. “This is the technology we have developed, and it will be a part of our portfolio soon.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/vision-2030s-india-s-path-to-a-mature-defence-complex-1787671548555/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/vision-2030s-india-s-path-to-a-mature-defence-complex-1787671548555/embed</a>&nbsp;Space is another frontier. Samtel is working towards satellite capabilities as part of its diversification strategy, with Kaura saying the systems could eventually serve both Indian forces and overseas customers.&nbsp;The larger challenge for India, however, is to turn today’s manufacturing momentum into long-term technological independence.&nbsp;For India’s emerging defence-industrial complex, the next milestone may therefore not simply be how much equipment is produced domestically, but how much of the technology inside that equipment is actually Indian.&nbsp;

India must move beyond defence manufacturing to develop and own critical technologies and intellectual property, strengthening self-reliance and its ability to compete in the global defence market.

India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem has undergone a dramatic transformation, but the country’s next challenge is to move beyond local manufacturing and establish ownership over the technologies powering its weapons and military platforms, according to Puneet Kaura, Managing Director and CEO of Samtel Avionics. Speaking to WION, Kaura highlighted the growing role of India’s private sector in building indigenous defence capabilities, while arguing that genuine self-reliance must ultimately be measured by control over intellectual property and critical technologies. For Kaura, the distinction between manufacturing and indigenous development is crucial. “Make in India is one part of it. I would say Design in India is more important,” he said, emphasising the need for Indian companies to develop technologies themselves instead of depending primarily on foreign technology transfers. This becomes particularly important during conflict, when dependence on overseas suppliers can expose vulnerabilities in military supply chains. Kaura also pointed to India’s changing position in the international defence market. Indian companies are no longer looking only at supplying the country’s armed forces, but increasingly at developing products capable of competing globally. Also Read: India signs $45.7 million deal to buy US Javelin anti-tank missiles for army: More details inside “After Operation Sindoor, Indian defence products have become battle-tested and the world is looking at us,” Kaura said, highlighting how operational validation can strengthen international confidence in Indian-made equipment. Samtel itself is expanding beyond avionics and cockpit display systems into emerging strategic technologies. Kaura revealed that the company is developing indigenous electronic warfare capabilities. “Another thing we are looking at is the jamming and intercepting technology, which can also be used across the border,” he said. “This is the technology we have developed, and it will be a part of our portfolio soon.” https://www.wionews.com/videos/vision-2030s-india-s-path-to-a-mature-defence-complex-1787671548555/embed Space is another frontier. Samtel is working towards satellite capabilities as part of its diversification strategy, with Kaura saying the systems could eventually serve both Indian forces and overseas customers. The larger challenge for India, however, is to turn today’s manufacturing momentum into long-term technological independence. For India’s emerging defence-industrial complex, the next milestone may therefore not simply be how much equipment is produced domestically, but how much of the technology inside that equipment is actually Indian.

India must move beyond defence manufacturing to develop and own critical technologies and intellectual property, strengthening self-reliance and its ability to compete in the global defence market.

India’s defence push must focus on ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’, says Puneet Kaura

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India is working hard to enhance its capabilities and capacities in the defence-manufacturing sector at a fast pace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he urged the private sector to come forward for designing and manufacturing of defence equipment.

The prime minister also noted that there were hundreds of ordnance factories before independence with large-scale weapons export from the country in both world wars but this system was not strengthened thereafter.

Addressing a webinar on effective implementation of the Union Budget's provisions in the defence sector, the prime minister listed a series of measures taken by his government to boost self-reliance in the defence sector and rued the fact that the country is amongst the biggest defence importers in the world.

He said an India that has the capacity to reach Mars could have made modern weapons also, but it became an easy way to import weapons from abroad.

"But now, the country is working hard to change the situation and also to enhance its capacities and capabilities at a fast pace," the prime minister asserted.

"The condition is such that even for small arms, we have to look at other nations. India is amongst the biggest defence importers and this is not a matter of pride," Modi stressed.

On the defence budget, the prime minister said a part has been reserved for domestic procurement even in the capital budget of defence.

A total amount of Rs 4.78 lakh crore has been earmarked for the defence ministry in the 2021-22 budget, with a nearly-19-per cent increase in capital outlay.

Modi also urged the private sector to come forward and take up both designing and manufacturing of defence equipment.

He said it is not that the people of India do not have the talent or capability, and pointed out that the country did not make ventilators before the coronavirus pandemic but now manufactures thousands of those.

Modi also cited the example of the indigenously-developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas.

He said his government has relied on the capabilities of the country's engineers and scientists in developing Tejas and today, it is "flying gracefully in the skies".

A few weeks ago, an order worth Rs 48,000 crore was placed for Tejas, he noted.

Modi said with initiatives like de-licensing, de-regulation, export promotion, foreign investment liberalisation, the government has taken several measures to give the defence-manufacturing sector a boost.

He said with the establishment of the chief of defence staff post, bringing uniformity in the procurement process and induction of equipment has become easy.

The prime minister said India has made a list of 100 important items related to defence that can be manufactured indigenously with the help of local industries.

He said it is called a negative list in the official language, but it is a positive list in the language of self-reliance.

This is the positive list on which the country's manufacturing capacity is going to increase, Modi asserted.

This is the positive list that is going to reduce India's dependence on foreign countries for defence needs and it guarantees the sale of indigenous products in India, he observed.

Describing the medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) as the backbone of the entire manufacturing sector, Modi said reforms that are taking place today are giving more freedom to the MSME sector and encouragement for expanding.

The prime minister said the defence corridors that are being built in the country will also help local entrepreneurs and local manufacturing.

"Self-sufficiency in our defence sector has to be seen as the empowerment of these two fronts -- jawan as well as youth," he said.&nbsp;

India is working hard to enhance its capabilities and capacities in the defence-manufacturing sector at a fast pace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he urged the private sector to come forward for designing and manufacturing of defence equipment.

India is working hard to enhance its capabilities and capacities in the defence-manufacturing sector at a fast pace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he urged the private sector to come forward for designing and manufacturing of defence equipment. The prime minister also noted that there were hundreds of ordnance factories before independence with large-scale weapons export from the country in both world wars but this system was not strengthened thereafter. Addressing a webinar on effective implementation of the Union Budget's provisions in the defence sector, the prime minister listed a series of measures taken by his government to boost self-reliance in the defence sector and rued the fact that the country is amongst the biggest defence importers in the world. He said an India that has the capacity to reach Mars could have made modern weapons also, but it became an easy way to import weapons from abroad. "But now, the country is working hard to change the situation and also to enhance its capacities and capabilities at a fast pace," the prime minister asserted. "The condition is such that even for small arms, we have to look at other nations. India is amongst the biggest defence importers and this is not a matter of pride," Modi stressed. On the defence budget, the prime minister said a part has been reserved for domestic procurement even in the capital budget of defence. A total amount of Rs 4.78 lakh crore has been earmarked for the defence ministry in the 2021-22 budget, with a nearly-19-per cent increase in capital outlay. Modi also urged the private sector to come forward and take up both designing and manufacturing of defence equipment. He said it is not that the people of India do not have the talent or capability, and pointed out that the country did not make ventilators before the coronavirus pandemic but now manufactures thousands of those. Modi also cited the example of the indigenously-developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas. He said his government has relied on the capabilities of the country's engineers and scientists in developing Tejas and today, it is "flying gracefully in the skies". A few weeks ago, an order worth Rs 48,000 crore was placed for Tejas, he noted. Modi said with initiatives like de-licensing, de-regulation, export promotion, foreign investment liberalisation, the government has taken several measures to give the defence-manufacturing sector a boost. He said with the establishment of the chief of defence staff post, bringing uniformity in the procurement process and induction of equipment has become easy. The prime minister said India has made a list of 100 important items related to defence that can be manufactured indigenously with the help of local industries. He said it is called a negative list in the official language, but it is a positive list in the language of self-reliance. This is the positive list on which the country's manufacturing capacity is going to increase, Modi asserted. This is the positive list that is going to reduce India's dependence on foreign countries for defence needs and it guarantees the sale of indigenous products in India, he observed. Describing the medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) as the backbone of the entire manufacturing sector, Modi said reforms that are taking place today are giving more freedom to the MSME sector and encouragement for expanding. The prime minister said the defence corridors that are being built in the country will also help local entrepreneurs and local manufacturing. "Self-sufficiency in our defence sector has to be seen as the empowerment of these two fronts -- jawan as well as youth," he said.

India committed to enhancing capabilities in defence manufacturing: PM Modi

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India’s defence push must focus on ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’, says Puneet Kaura

What are the ‘HAMMER’ smart missiles that India could soon manufacture locally?

India committed to enhancing capabilities in defence manufacturing: PM Modi