PM launches Mission DefSpace for Armed Forces

Tags: Defence National News

Realising the economic and strategic potential of global space, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19 October launched “Mission DefSpace” for developing innovative solutions for the Armed Forces.

Important facts

• The mission is launched for developing innovative solutions for the Armed Forces.

• The Prime Minister also released the fourth Defence Indigenization List, which prohibits the import of 101 items after a certain time limit.

• Under Mission DefSpace, 75 challenges in the space sector have been identified for private firms to work on.

• Space technology is shaping new definitions of India's liberal space diplomacy and giving rise to new possibilities.

• There are more than 60 developing countries with whom India is sharing its space science. The South Asia satellite is an effective example of this.

Fourth defence indigenisation list

• As part of efforts to boost the domestic defence industry and defence exports, the Ministry of Defence has released a positive indigenization list.

• It pays special attention to the equipment/systems which are being developed and which are likely to be converted into solid orders in the next five to ten years.

• The Ministry of Defence had earlier released the first, second and third positive indigenization list, which consisted of 310 items.

What is a positive indigenization list?

• A positive indigenization list means that the armed forces will procure the listed items only from domestic manufacturers.

• Manufacturers can be private sector players or Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).

Govt Initiatives for indigenisation in defence sector 

• The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit under the automatic route in the defence sector has been increased from 49% to 74%.

• In October 2021, the government dissolved the four-decade-old Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and merged 41 factories of seven new state-owned companies to manufacture defence hardware ranging from munitions to heavy weapons and vehicles.

• India has inaugurated two defence industrial corridors, one in Tamil Nadu and the other in Uttar Pradesh, to promote the flagship "Make in India" programme.

• According to an estimate, the Indian Armed Forces are projected to spend around USD 130 billion in capital procurement over the next five years.