The new defence purchase policy envisages a greater role for the private sector in supplying much needed equipment to the country’s armed forces, Union Defence Minister A K Antony said this at International Technology Seminar on ‘Future Infantry Combat Vehicle and Future Main Battle Tank’. The two-day seminar was jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry in association with the Directorate General of Mechanised Forces.

Addressing the seminar, Mr. Antony said “It should be our endeavour to achieve maximum synergy between the Defence, Public & Private Sectors, in order to create a competitive defence technology edge and strengthen the industry base in our country”. He further added that the focus of the new rules and procedures in the defence procurement procedures 2008 (DPP 2008) is on ensuring speedier procurements of weapons, systems and platforms, while ensuring transparency. The DPP 2008 will be operative from August 1 and it incorporates the experience of the government and the armed forces since it was first formulated in 2006.

In his address Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Deepak Kapoor, pointed out that while technology was critical for any nation’s defence system, “what was also needed was the need to check any time and procedural delays.” He said that while it was important to stress on indigenisation and collaborative approach, “we should not compromise on our operational capabilities.”

Earlier in his opening remarks, Mr Atul Kirloskar, Chairman, CII National Committee on Defence and CMD, Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd, urged the government to speedily notify the private companies being granted the Raksha Udyog Ratna status. The status would enable these companies to compete at par with the defence public sector enterprises and the ordinance factories for defence contracts.

Delivering the theme address, Lt Gen Dalip Bhardwaj, Director-General Mechanised Forces, said that the time was right for greater private sector involvement in supplying defence equipment. “However, the industry must keep in mind the defence sector’s end needs and not just the technology.” According to him what the industry needs to do is to develop products that have a longer shelf life.

The seminar, witnessed participation from over 120 domestic and international defence companies.