Missile, arrestor wire in Navy's indigenisation list for India

New Delhi: Aiming to have 200 ships by 2030, Navy has come out with an exhaustive list of products – from surface-to-air missiles for warships to air independent propulsion system for submarines -- that can be indigenised, and will share it with Indian industries.

Products in need include items as complex as surface-to- air missiles for warships and air independent propulsion system for submarines to less daunting arrestor wires for slight operations on aircraft carriers.

The 'Indian Naval Indigenization Plan 2015-2030' will now be shared with India Inc, chambers of commerce and will also be uploaded on the Indian Navy's website.

The entire list has been divided into three segments that make up a warship -- float, move and fight.

According to a study conducted by Navy, India has achieved an indigenisation of 90 per cent in the float segment. In the move segment, India has achieved 60 per cent of indigenisation and just 30-40 per cent in the fight segment.

Development in the field of naval systems is inherently technology intensive and requires substantial investment of time, money and resources.

Navy officials said that the industry, including the private sector, can therefore play a vital role in meeting sophisticated needs of the armed forces through cost-effective utilisation of its know-how and existing infrastructure.

In the past, the Indian Navy had to acquire military technologies through import. Requisite expertise also had to be created for their operation and maintenance.

The 15-year 'Indigenization Plan' was first prepared and promulgated in 2003, in keeping with the induction plan of new platforms. This plan is reviewed after every five years, with the last revision undertaken in 2008, officials said.

The new plan attempts to formulate a structured process to develop systems by specifying technologies and broad requirements catering for new induction platforms in the Navy such as Vikramaditya, Teg Class frigates, Fleet Tankers, Naval OPVs and Scorpene Submarines.

In addition, the plan also caters to requirements for aviation and diving equipment for the first time.

In the float category, the Navy needs arrestor wires that are used by aircraft while landing on aircraft carrier. This wire is currently imported from Russia. Other items include aircraft lifts, long life paints for underwater hull, flight deck and radar absorption.

In the move category, the Navy needs gas turbines (11-15 MW and 20-25 MW), main propulsion diesel engines, marine gearboxes, CFC free fire fighting systems for magazines and machinery spaces, canned motor pumps among others.