Self-Reliance in Defence Technology
Recent geopolitical tensions have emphasized the need for India to focus on self-reliance in defence technology, particularly in the context of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (Amca) programme.
Strategic Partnerships
- Self-reliance involves building strategic, sovereign partnerships rather than isolation.
- India's Amca programme, with an investment of ₹15,000 crore, exemplifies this approach.
- Amca requires partners who are willing to co-invest, co-develop, and co-own, not just transactional suppliers.
Global Examples of Cooperation
- Examples such as the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) by Britain, Japan, and Italy, and Europe's Eurojet consortium, show the importance of international cooperation for faster and cost-effective development.
Challenges in Partnerships
- Not all partnerships are successful; some involve withdrawn commitments and limited IP access.
- India should evaluate partners based on performance, technical expertise, shared interests, and commitment.
India-UK Vision 2035
- India and the UK have laid a policy-backed foundation for defence collaboration through agreements such as the LoA on defence collaboration and Technology and Security Initiative (TSI).
- The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the UK includes defence, highlighting the sector's strategic significance.
Amca and Propulsion Partnership
- Britain is a prospective partner for Amca’s propulsion system, given its extensive experience in combat engine design.
- The partnership could advance from tactical cooperation to technology co-creation.
Future Vision
- India aims for capability transfer, not just part transfer, in its defence collaborations.
- This involves establishing joint ownership of IP and enabling India to independently evolve engine architecture.
- Structured frameworks will govern these partnerships, ensuring secure and transparent technology flows.
Conclusion
India’s ambition to become a global defence production hub hinges on integrating indigenous capabilities with global partnerships, as exemplified by the Amca programme. The programme is a crucial test case for India’s approach to building critical technologies.
