“One of the most prestigious communications project conceived by the Corps (of Signals), the Tactical Communication System (TCS) is well on the way,” said Raksha Rajya Mantri, Shri MM Pallam Raju, while addressing the participants during inaugural session of DEFCOM India 2010, a joint initiative of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Corps of Signals of Indian Army. He further said that, “This project is being progressed under the ‘Make’ category and provides the Indian Industry an excellent opportunity to seek its share of defence production.”
The Minister also said that the Government of India is exploring options to encourage and enhance private industry’s participation in defence sector. These options include promoting Consortium, Joint Ventures and Public Private Partnership. The ultimate aim is to create indigenous capabilities and achieve the aim of self-reliance in the defence sector.
“¦Government of India is exploring options to encourage and enhance private industrys participation in defence sector. These options include promoting Consortium, Joint Ventures and Public Private Partnership.
This transformation is also generating numerous opportunities for the Indian Defence Industry. The Raksha Rajya Mantri observed that the Indian Industry has created a niche for itself globally and is now prepared and poised for greater participation in Defence production at home. He further added that while a self reliant Indian Defence Information and Technology Communication Industry is critical to meet the Indian Armed Forces current and future military requirements, the industry need to invest much more on R&D to make any meaningful contribution. He concluded by saying that the Academia, R&D organizations and Industry must work together to achieve our shared goal of indigenisation and self reliance in defence production for which adequate opportunities exists.
The Chief of the Army Staff Gen VK Singh said that the Indian Army is transforming itself from a conventional platform centric force to more agile, lethal, versatile, capability based and networked centric force. Therefore a wide spectrum of changes will be required. Information superiority can be ensured through active participation of private industry. The Chief further stressed that these changes are rapid and profound and require wide discussions, debate, trials and testing prior to acceptance.
The Signal Officer-in-Chief, Lt Gen P Mohapatra said that there is a need to ensure active participation of the Indian Industry in meeting the technological challenges faced by the Corps in convergence of networks which will contribute to the transformation of the Indian Armed Forces. He however cautioned that technology is a catalyst as well as an inhibitor. While we acquire and field newer technologies, our vulnerabilities also increase. Security must therefore remain a key central issue to the transformation process.
Lt Gen VS Tonk, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff emphasised that the net-centricity in itself has become a weapon system rather than a support system. It is, therefore, very important to ensure cyber security.
Mr Ajai Chowdhry, Founder & Chairman, HCL Infosystems said that “the growing needs of armed forces, the real defenders of our sovereignty, can be met with the active participation of private industry.” Defence Communication is a multi-billion sector and requires greater participation of Indian industry. We are glad that projects such as Network for Spectrum, Defence Communication Network and ASCON Phase-4 are in the pipeline. And, finally the Indian Private Industry has also been considered to participate in the most prestigious TCS program for the Army.
Mr Chowdhry further said that several Indian companies including many SMEs have entered into communication hardware and software development, and coming up with specific innovations in this domain to take up the challenge of meeting the requirements of the armed forces. Indian Industry today is emerging as an efficient, competitive and viable manufacturing hub for the world. India promises a market for defence products and, at the same time, offers high quality manufacturing facilities which would make products competitive not only for the Indian market but also for global markets.
Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry ensured the audience that private industry is ready to take up any kind of challenge. Private industry has proved its mettle in the several sectors and defence would not be any exception.
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