Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a Defence PSU under the
Ministry of Defence responded to a Request for Information (RFI) received from
Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Malaysia in February, 2019 for LCA class
aircraft. Subsequently, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited responded in October,
2021 to Request for Proposal (RFP) issued against tender released by Royal
Malaysian Air Force, Malaysia for 18 nos of Fighter Lead In Trainer – Light
Combat Aircraft (FLIT – LCA) and HAL offered LCA Tejas twin seater variant.
Other countries which have evinced interest in LCA aircraft are: Argentina,
Australia, Egypt, USA, Indonesia, and Philippines.
The Government has taken several policy initiatives in the past
few years and brought in reforms to encourage indigenous design, development
and manufacture of defence equipment in the country, thereby expanding their
production. These initiatives, inter-alia, include:According priority to
procurement of capital items from domestic sources under Defence Acquisition
Procedure (DAP)-2020.The announcement of 18
major defence platforms for industry led design & development in March, 2022.
Notification of three
‘Positive Indigenisation Lists’ of total 310 items of Services and two
‘Positive Indigenisation Lists’ of total 2958 items of the Defence Public
Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), for which there would be an embargo on the import
beyond the timelines indicated against them.Simplification of
Industrial licensing process with longer validity period.Liberalisation of
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy allowing 74% FDI under automatic route.
Simplification of Make
Procedure.Launch of Innovations
for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme involving start-ups & Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).Implementation of
Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017.Launch of an
indigenisation portal namely SRIJAN to facilitate indigenisation by Indian
Industry including MSMEs.Reforms in Offset
policy with thrust on attracting investment and Transfer of Technology for
DefenceEstablishment of two
Defence Industrial Corridors, one each in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.Opening up of Defence
Research & Development (R&D) for industry, start-ups and academia with
25 percent of defence R&D budget earmarked to promote development of
defence technology in the country; and
Progressive increase in allocation of Defence Budget of military
modernisation for procurement from domestic sources, etc.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya
Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Shrimati Queen Oja and others in
Lok Sabha today.