Atmanirbhar Bharat: Indian Army Approves Five Make II Projects

The Army has granted project sanction orders for five Make II projects, including a drone kill system and an infantry training weapon simulator, according to the Defence Ministry.

On Friday, the ministry said in a statement that Make II programmes are primarily industry-funded projects involving design, development and innovative solutions by Indian vendors for prototype development.

“The Indian Army is spearheading activities to offer impetus to 'Make Projects' as the primary drivers of infusion of niche technology through indigenous development,” according to the ministry.

The Indian Army has issued project sanction orders (PSOs) for five Make II projects, adding to the momentum of ongoing programmes of indigenisation. 

According to the ministry, these projects with approved PSOs included high-frequency man packed software-defined radio, drone kill system, infantry training weapon simulator (IWTS), 155 mm terminally guided munition (TGM) and medium range precision kill system (MRPKS).

PSOs have been granted to 14 Developing Agencies (DAs) under the Make II scheme for creating a prototype of a High-Frequency Man Packed Software Defined Radio (HFSDR). It further said that the Indian Army intends to purchase 300 HFSDRs if the prototype is successful.

The Indian Army has given PSO to 18 DAs for procuring 35 sets of drone kill systems under the Make II scheme, following the successful prototype construction, as part of measures to further foster the indigenous anti-drone ecosystem. According to the announcement, the project is just for MSMEs and start-ups.

PSO has been issued to four DAs to create the prototype in preparation for the following procurement of 125 sets of IWTS via the Make II procedure. According to the statement, the IWTS is the first tri-service Make II project, with the Indian Army serving as the lead.

PSOs have been given to 15 DAs “Under the Make-II category of DAP 2020, a prototype of MRPKS is being developed. Following the successful creation of this prototype, the Indian Army will purchase ten sets of MRPKS,” it added.

“The Indian Army is already working on 43 current projects under the Make II capital acquisition programme. 17 of the 43 projects have been begun as a result of suo-moto proposals received from the industry, generating enthusiasm and confidence in the Indian defence sector for participation in the 'Make procedure’,” according to the statement.

According to the ministry, the Make II procurement scheme has given an impetus to increase design and development in the defence industry in order to achieve the indigenisation of high-end technology systems in various types of weapon systems, ammunition and modern training systems that are currently unavailable in the country.

“Several attempts to speed the ongoing Make II projects have yielded substantial results. Twenty-two of the 43 Make II projects are presently in the prototype development stage, accounting for 66 per cent of the total cost (Rs 18,000 crore out of Rs 27,000 crore),” the statement said.