Amid rising geopolitical tensions, particularly along its contested borders, India is transforming its military capability through an ambitious Rs 210,000 crore modernisation initiative. This comprehensive drive involves 454 diverse projects, engaging approximately 567 domestic industries and academic institutions, aligning firmly with India’s ‘Make in India’ and Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Central to this transformational effort is the ‘Make-II’ initiative, characterised by private-sector-led innovation. Unlike Make-I, which involves substantial government investment, Make-II sees private entities funding initial development, with guaranteed procurement upon successful trials. This model has significantly revitalised India’s defence manufacturing landscape, attracting active participation from startups, established firms, and MSMEs.
Design and development are progressing on seven Make-I and 45 Make-II projects, amounting to approximately Rs 113,000 crore. Notably, 19 of these 45 Make-II projects have been initiated suo moto by industry participants themselves, reflecting the proactive and innovative potential of India’s private defence sector. However, I wish to emphasise that the industry initiative has to be backed by the government and the defence forces. The Indian Army appears well on course in encouraging the industry, especially the MSMEs, and this is a good trend.
Notable successes under Make-II
An exemplary Make-II project is the Manoeuvrable Expendable Aerial Target (MEAT), developed by Anadrone Systems Private Limited under a ₹96 crore contract. This system enhances the Army’s air defence training, providing realistic simulations of aerial threats. Apollo Micro Systems’ Vehicle-Mounted Counter Swarm Drone System (VMCSDS), integrating radar, electro-optical sensors, and directed-energy weapons, was contracted in July 2024 with an 85-week execution timeline, positioning its operational deployment around March 2026.
Enhancing operational readiness along the LAC
The Make-II initiative explicitly addresses areas of improvement highlighted by recent India-China standoffs. The Autonomous Surveillance and Armed Drone Swarms (A-SADS), for instance, delivered 100 operational drones by March 2023 through a contract with NewSpace Research and Technologies. These drone swarms significantly enhance precision strike and surveillance capabilities, laying the groundwork for further expansion in the future.
Complementing these drone capabilities are High-Frequency Man-Packed Software-Defined Radios (HFSDR), ensuring secure and robust communication in mountainous terrain. These systems strengthen command, control, and rapid decision-making capabilities, countering sophisticated electronic warfare (EW) threats.
Another significant advancement is the Medium-Range Precision Kill System (MRPKS), currently under prototype trials with 15 Indian agencies. With a confirmed 40 km operational range and two-hour loitering capability, MRPKS considerably enhances precision strike capability along critical border regions. Loiter munitions have significantly impacted the tactical level outcomes in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
