Indigenisation in the Indian Army and operational readiness: Optimising approach – Firstpost

Amid rising geopolitical tensions, particularly along its contested borders, India is transforming its military capability through an ambitious Rs 210,000 crore modernisation initiative. This comprehensive drive involves 454 diverse projects, engaging approximately 567 domestic industries and academic institutions, aligning firmly with India’s ‘Make in India’ and Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Central to this transformational effort is the ‘Make-II’ initiative, characterised by private-sector-led innovation. Unlike Make-I, which involves substantial government investment, Make-II sees private entities funding initial development, with guaranteed procurement upon successful trials. This model has significantly revitalised India’s defence manufacturing landscape, attracting active participation from startups, established firms, and MSMEs.

Design and development are progressing on seven Make-I and 45 Make-II projects, amounting to approximately Rs 113,000 crore. Notably, 19 of these 45 Make-II projects have been initiated suo moto by industry participants themselves, reflecting the proactive and innovative potential of India’s private defence sector. However, I wish to emphasise that the industry initiative has to be backed by the government and the defence forces. The Indian Army appears well on course in encouraging the industry, especially the MSMEs, and this is a good trend.

Notable successes under Make-II

An exemplary Make-II project is the Manoeuvrable Expendable Aerial Target (MEAT), developed by Anadrone Systems Private Limited under a ₹96 crore contract. This system enhances the Army’s air defence training, providing realistic simulations of aerial threats. Apollo Micro Systems’ Vehicle-Mounted Counter Swarm Drone System (VMCSDS), integrating radar, electro-optical sensors, and directed-energy weapons, was contracted in July 2024 with an 85-week execution timeline, positioning its operational deployment around March 2026.

Enhancing operational readiness along the LAC

The Make-II initiative explicitly addresses areas of improvement highlighted by recent India-China standoffs. The Autonomous Surveillance and Armed Drone Swarms (A-SADS), for instance, delivered 100 operational drones by March 2023 through a contract with NewSpace Research and Technologies. These drone swarms significantly enhance precision strike and surveillance capabilities, laying the groundwork for further expansion in the future.

Complementing these drone capabilities are High-Frequency Man-Packed Software-Defined Radios (HFSDR), ensuring secure and robust communication in mountainous terrain. These systems strengthen command, control, and rapid decision-making capabilities, countering sophisticated electronic warfare (EW) threats.

Another significant advancement is the Medium-Range Precision Kill System (MRPKS), currently under prototype trials with 15 Indian agencies. With a confirmed 40 km operational range and two-hour loitering capability, MRPKS considerably enhances precision strike capability along critical border regions. Loiter munitions have significantly impacted the tactical level outcomes in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Strategic partnerships and Indo-US collaboration

Make-II projects also strengthen India’s strategic partnerships, notably with the West in general and the United States in particular. Under bilateral frameworks like the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), and Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), initiatives such as INDUS-X foster collaboration between Indian and American defence firms, accelerating the integration of advanced technologies. Such strategic alignments highlight India’s commitment to regional stability and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific. Once again, our approach towards building greater cooperation with the West is not at the cost of Russia. It is driven by sovereign interest and diversification.

Electronic warfare and AI-driven modernisation

Significant Make-II advancements include sophisticated EW capabilities. Mobile Tactical signals intelligence (SIGINT) Platforms, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) analytics, enhance the Army’s surveillance along sensitive border areas. Indigenous Drone Kill Systems employing kinetic and electromagnetic pulse technologies have already been deployed in sensitive high-altitude areas along our borders.

The Combat Information Decision Support System (CIDSS), integrating real-time battlefield sensor data, has drastically reduced tactical response times. Although Autonomous Border Patrol Vehicles remain an aspirational capability, India’s ongoing investments in AI-driven systems demonstrate clear strategic intent towards their future operational integration. While looking for capability development in emerging technologies, emphasis is also on optimising the budget with qualitative aspirations.

Economic impact and defence self-reliance

The Make-II initiative significantly bolsters India’s broader economic and strategic objectives. Defence manufacturing reached Rs 127,000 crore in FY 2023–24, with exports surging to Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024–25, driven significantly by indigenous innovations under Make-II. The Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative further complements these efforts, with 86 ongoing projects and Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) already accorded to 14 projects valued at Rs235 crore.

Moreover, iterative product enhancements are encouraged through the Army’s regular internal evaluations and No Cost-No Commitment (NCNC) demonstrations, which have directly resulted in the procurement of 24 types of equipment worth approximately Rs 3,300 crore.

Emergency procurement: Balancing immediate needs and strategic planning

Complementing the Make-II initiative’s long-term innovation strategy, the Army employs strategic Emergency Procurement (EP) to address critical capability gaps rapidly. Initiated post-2016 (Uri attack) and accelerated further following the 2017 Doka La (Dokalam) 2020 China standoff, the EP mechanism has seen 138 schemes worth over Rs 16,000 crore contracted. These expedited acquisitions have significantly improved operational readiness, particularly in firepower, mobility, communication, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC).

Importantly, recent EP-IV and EP-V tranches have exclusively focused on Indian-made equipment, enhancing self-reliance and bolstering the domestic defence industry.

Strengthening the indigenous defence ecosystem

The Army Design Bureau (ADB) plays a pivotal role in these modernisation initiatives, actively engaging over 1,700 industries, 200 academic institutions, and 50 research institutes. Initiatives such as the Compendium of Problem Definition Statements (CPDS) launched in February 2023 have generated over 500 industry solutions, demonstrating robust participation from the domestic sector.

To amplify industry engagement, Regional Technology Nodes (RTNs) established in Pune and Bengaluru, along with dedicated Indian Army cells at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D), the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K), the Indian Institute of Technology Chennai (IIT-C), and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, have incubated more than 30 startups. These academic-industry collaborations significantly advance innovation in critical domains such as AI, robotics, and electric vehicles.

Future force and strategic autonomy

India’s ambitious defence self-reliance programme, combined with strategic emergency procurements, encapsulates a balanced approach to long-term defence self-reliance and immediate operational readiness. An exercise to simplify and cut the clutter in the DAP-2020 will accelerate the process of indigenisation. Through targeted investment, industry engagement, and strategic international partnerships, India is effectively positioning itself to meet contemporary and emerging security threats, strengthening both its military capability and broader strategic autonomy to secure its sovereign interests.

The writer is the Director General of the Centre for Land Warfare Studies Lt Gen Dushyant Singh (Retd) is Director General, Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.