Visakhapatnam:The MSME sector has been playing an important role in defense manufacturing, Eastern Naval Command Chief Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendherkar emphasized while addressing a conference organized by the Society of Indian Defense Manufacturers and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with the department in Visakhapatnam on Monday. of defense production.
The Vice Admiral said the Navy has launched several initiatives to involve MSMEs, such as Central Indigenization and Self-Reliance (CSR) and various conferences like Amrit 24. These efforts help micro, small and medium enterprises to understand the indigenization requirements of the Navy. Penderkar said these initiatives have yielded visible results, with many components being developed by MSMEs based on military specifications, from gas turbine filters to autonomous systems.
The vice admiral said that an important discussion point at the conference was the difference between indigenization – the local manufacture of foreign components – and indigenous development, which involves the design and development of entirely new solutions within India. Development is included. He stressed that the latter is critical to achieving true self-reliance in defence. He pointed out that the government has created a supportive environment through initiatives like the Defense Industrial Corridor, IDEX and the Defense Innovation Hub.
Pendherkar suggested the need to develop a culture of innovation. This includes encouraging research and development, supporting emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, robotics and additive manufacturing, and encouraging new ideas through grants and recognition programs.
The vice admiral stressed that collaboration between MSMEs, academia and large defense manufacturers will be key to drive innovation and indigenization.
“India’s long-term vision is to build naval platforms with 100 percent indigenous components. The construction of INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, involved more than 500 MSMEs and created thousands of jobs. It shows opportunities for MSMEs from component manufacturing to providing integrated systems in the defense sector, ” observed Pendherkar.
Abhishek Kishore, director of AP Industries, was among those present at the conference.