Explore Business Standard
Defence Manufacturing
In line with the steps to modernise the Army's artillery regiments and enhance operational readiness, indigenously-made Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) will replace the vintage and smaller calibre guns, with the Defence Ministry on Wednesday calling the project an "exemplary mission mode success". ATAGS is designed by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). The ministry shared a post on X along with a video showcasing ATAGS, whose maximum range is 48 km. "We started this project in the year 2012. And, within a span of 12 years, we could complete the total process of design to manufacturing, testing and induction," said ARDE Director A Raju in the recorded video. The key features are its quite advance system, he said, adding, ARDE is playing a crucial rule in "Atmanirbharta of our nation". Earlier on March 26, the Defence Ministry had signed contracts with Bharat Forge Limited
Pitching for developing indigenous capabilities for defence manufacturing, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Friday said the Indian Air Force would prefer a "homegrown" system even if it gives "slightly lesser performance". Speaking at the Chanakya Dialogues conclave here on the theme of "Bharat 2047: Atmanirbhar In War", the Air Force chief also said that there is a need for manufacturing at least 35-40 military aircraft in India every year and stressed the target is not impossible to meet. He said the IAF's first priority when it comes to acquisition, is "anything that is homegrown". "So I'm very convinced in my mind that even if a homegrown system gives me a slightly lesser performance... if it is 90 percent or 85 percent of what I get in the world market, we will go for homegrown system because that is the only way we can get over with always looking outward to get our systems," he said. "But at the same time, a homegrown system cannot just happen overnight. It will take time and
Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi has said India's semiconductor policy is essentially "new oil for the economy" and important to improve the country's defence manufacturing. Speaking at an event here on Monday, he also asked the private sector to take the lead in order to make the country self-reliant. If India has to become self-reliant, then the private industry must take the lead in defence manufacturing, he said. The Ministry of Defence has set aside Rs 450 crore this year for the Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme, which aims to help startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) innovate, Admiral Tripathi said. "The MoD has earmarked 75 per cent of our modernisation budget for the defence industry, which is almost Rs 1 lakh crore. And out of that, 25 per cent has been earmarked for the private defence industry in this budget. This year, Rs 450 crore has been successfully allocated for iDEX scheme," he said. Since its inception in 2018, the iDEX has signed
Bharat Forge on Wednesday said its subsidiary has inked a pact with AM General, USA to supply made-in-India advanced artillery cannons. Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd (KSSL) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) at IDEX 2025 in AbuDhabi, the company said in a regulatory filing. This marks the first-ever supply of cannons from an Indian defence manufacturer to the US, a testament to the strengthening bilateral defence cooperation between our two nations, it added. "It is a testament to our capabilities and a major advancement in our mission to be a world leading artillery solutions provider. This agreement underscores the trust and confidence that global defence leaders, such as AM General, place in our capabilities," Bharat Forge Chairman & Managing Director Baba Kalyani said. AM General Executive Vice President John Chadbourne said the Letter of Intent with KSSL represents an important step in expanding the strategic partnership. "Given KSSL's proven artillery capabilities and our .