DPP-13 to liberalise defence procurement

"A strong and vibrant partnership between the public and private sector is crucial for delivering the much-needed defence technological upgradation."

However, defence experts opine, "in an effort to boost homemade production, the government has been saying this for a decade, and yet it still imports a majority of its weapons because the domestic industry is not ready to produce high-tech equipment."

According to officers, the private industry should focus less on the high value, high technology weapons platforms (e.g. aircraft and tanks) on which the big defence money is spent. Instead, should should emulate the auto parts industry by setting up manufacturing units that were part of a global supply chain. These small units would form the backbone of a countrywide defence industrial base.