MoD Identifies 18 Major Platforms for Industry-Led Design and Development

In a significant boost to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ and in sync with the announcement in the Union Budget 2022-23 that allocated 25 per cent of Defence R&D Budget for industry led R&D, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced on March 11, 2022 that 18 major platforms have been identified for industry-led Design & Development under various models. The list related to aviation is as follows:

Make-I

• Hypersonic Glide Vehicle.
• Directed Energy Weapons (300 KW and more) High Powered Electromagnetic Devices and High Powered Laser Devices.
• Naval Ship-Borne Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS).
• Standoff Airborne Jammer.

Following two platforms related to aviation have been already been accorded Approval-in-Principle under this model on March 3, 2022:

• EO Pod (with subsequent upgrade to EO/IR) with high resolution sensing.
• Standoff Airborne Jammer.

For Projects under Make-I subcategory, the MoD will provide financial support up to 70 per cent of total cost of prototype development.