New Delhi :Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande on Monday said that as part of the Atmanirbharta pursuit, the Indian Army has been focusing on leveraging both the MSMEs and the Start Up ecosystem for meeting the capability development requirements.
Delivering a keynote address at the Maharashtra MSME Defence Expo 2024 at Pune, Gen Pande said that under the Innovations in Defence Excellence (iDEX) procurement, all projects are mandated to be progressed through Start Ups, an official statement said here.
He said, “Currently under the iDEX route, 55 Indian Army projects, worth Rs 400 crore are being pursued, which encompass a total of 65 Start Ups. As many as four contracts worth Rs 70 crore have been concluded for procurement of equipment in limited quantities for field exploitation. The iDEX route also follows the spiral mode of development of indigenous technology and platforms since exploitation of limited quantities in field conditions enables concurrent development of equipment based on user recommendations.”

Gen Pande also mentioned about the Indian Army’s in house Ideas and Innovation initiative and informed the gathering about two innovations and the technology transferred to industry for mass production, namely VIDYUT RAKSHAK – an Internet of Things (IoT) based generator protection system and a biomedical device.

He said that the Indian Army’s endeavour to promote innovation also entails pursuing of Intellectual Property Rights for the products developed in collaboration with the industry and highlighted that 66 IPRs have been filed by the Indian Army to date, of which 13 patents, 05 copyrights and 05 design registrations have been granted.

He hailed Maharashtra for being one of the major contributors to the nation’s economy, industrial growth, exports and FDI attractiveness, adding that the State was the first in India to frame a Defence Manufacturing Policy after private investment was allowed in the defence sector.

Maharashtra has also declared aerospace and defence manufacturing as a thrust sector in the ‘Package Scheme of Incentives’. As a result of these efforts, the State has been contributing more than 20% to the country’s output in aircrafts, ships and boats and 30% to the national output in weapons and ammunition, the COAS said.

These figures reflect a strategic vision towards promoting the defence industrial sector, he added.

The Indian Army, during the expo, displayed its indigenous equipment and systems such as Tank T-90, BMP Mk-II, Soltam Gun, Dhanush Howitzer, K-9 Vajra, Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher, Sarvatra Bridge System, Schilka Gun and Fly Catcher Radar of Army Air Defence, Tavor, Sig Sauer and M4 Assault Rifles, AK-47, Sniper Rifles and various other weapons and equipment.

The Chief of Army Staff also interacted with the participating industries and encouraged them to align their products and services with the future requirements of the Indian Army. He urged all to collectively contribute to the aspirations, goals and objectives of a Rising India, through the resolve and commitment to Atmanirbharta.