Govt aids local production of critical components of SU-30MK1 aircraft and1500 HP battle tank engine

To supplement this public-private endeavour, Technology Development Board, a statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology, is supporting the efforts of Ghaziabad Precision Products Private Limited (GPP) for ‘development by critical machining and inspection process of accessory components of SU-30MK1 aircraft such as  Rotary Pipe Union and Cover, respectively, valve train components of 1500 HP battle tank engine as also valve train components of regular BEML engines. 

The Technology Development Board has signed an agreement with Ghaziabad Precision Products Private Limited, (GPP), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh for ‘development by critical machining and inspection process of accessory components of SU-30MK1 aircraft.

The project involves the setting up of a facility for the development and supply of critically machined accessory components of ‘Sukhoi-30MKI’ to Hindustan Aeronautic Ltd (HAL) and valve train components of 1500 HP 12V, 25 litres capacity diesel engine of Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) being developed by Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), Avadi and regular Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) engine to BEML. 

GPP is a registered vendor of both HAL and BEML and through this project will be actively participating in the process of import substitution for some of the components.

“To help in the development of indigenous manufacturing ecosystem under ‘Make in India’ initiative of the GOI, TDB has been supporting many imported technologies for wider domestic applications, to enhance local capacity building for such critical machine components and services through private manufactures across sectors, viz, defence, health and pharma, automobile and drone manufacturing etc,” TDB secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak said.

The Narendra Modi government has ramped up efforts towards facilitating global investments in India and strengthening local manufacturing in the defence sector. One major area of focus towards indigenisation has been the defence sector, as several policy initiatives and reforms to encourage indigenous design, development has been taken up under the flagship ‘Make in India’ initiative, in order to reduce dependency on imports of defence equipment.

As part of this, the ministry of defence has launched the ‘SRIJAN’ portal to promote indigenisation by the industry. About 19,509 defence items, which were earlier imported, have been uploaded on the portal for indigenisation till date. Out of these, the Indian industry has shown interest for indigenisation of 4,006 defence items so far. With these initiatives, the expenditure on defence procurement from foreign sources has reduced from 46 per cent to 36 per cent, thereby reducing import burden, in the last three years, ie, from 2018-19 to 2020-21. Further, the value of production of public and private sector defence companies have increased from Rs79,071 crore to Rs84,643 crore in last two years, ie, 2019-20 and 2020-21.