India to ban import of lk defence items

This is the fourth positive indigenisation list of strategically important components used by defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) that have been placed under an import ban over the past two years.

- Rahul Singh

India has announced a fresh list of about 1,000 military items, including replacement units, subsystems and spares, which will come under a phased import ban between December 2023 and December 2029, officials aware of the matter said on Sunday.

The move marks the latest push for self-reliance in manufacturing for items used in fighter planes, trainer aircraft, warships and different types of ammunition.

This is the fourth positive indigenisation list of strategically important components used by defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) that have been placed under an import ban over the past two years. Three similar lists were published by the defence ministry in December 2021, March 2022 and August 2022.

The new list consists of 928 items, with an import substitution value of ₹715 crore, the ministry said in a statement.

“To promote ‘Atmanirbharta’ in defence and minimise imports by the DPSUs, the defence ministry has approved the 4th positive indigenisation lists of 928 strategically important LRUs/sub-systems/spares and components, including high-end materials and spares, with an import substitution value worth ₹715 crore," the statement said.

These items will only be procured from local industry after the prescribed timelines, the officials said. The latest list seeks to promote domestic production of several parts of Sukhoi-30 and Jaguar fighter jets, Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) planes, magazine firefighting systems on board warships, and gas turbine generators.