Indian Army Approves Five make II Projects

Indian Army is spearheading actions to provide impetus to “Make Projects” as the prime drivers of infusion of niche technologies through indigenous development. To give a further boost to the ongoing projects, the Indian Army has now approved Project Sanction Orders (PSOs) for five Make II projects. Make II projects are essentially Industry funded projects involving design, development, and innovative solutions by Indian vendors for the development of prototypes. An assurance of order is given after successful prototype development.

Following are the projects whose PSOs have been approved:-

High-Frequency Man Packed Software Defined Radio (HFSDR). A project Sanction Order (PSO) for the development of a prototype of Frequency Man Packed Software Defined Radio (HFSDR) under the Make II scheme has been issued to 14 Developing Agencies (DAs). 300 HFSDRs are planned to be procured by the Indian Army, on the successful development of the prototype. State-of-the-art, lightweight HFSDR will provide long-distance radio communication through enhanced data capability and bandwidth coupled with enhanced security. It will facilitate blue-force tracking with map-based navigation using GIS, thereby increasing real-time situational awareness. These radio sets will replace the existing HF radio sets in the inventory, which have limited data handling capability and obsolete technology.

Drone Kill System. RPAS/ s have greatly impacted the modern battlefield even though drone-related technologies are constantly evolving. The indigenous industry has adequate expertise to develop world-class products in this field. As part of efforts to further encourage the indigenous anti-drone ecosystem, the Indian Army has approved Project Sanction Order (PSO) to 18 Developing Agencies (DAs) for procurement of 35 sets of Drone Kill Systems under the Make II scheme, post successful development of Prototype. The project is reserved for MSMEs/Start-ups. Drone Kill System is a hard kill anti-drone system against low Radio Cross Section (RCS) Drone/ unmanned Aerial System (UAS), being developed to function in all types of terrains, both during day and night.

Infantry Training Weapon Simulator (IWTS). A project Sanction Order (PSO) has been issued to four Developing Agencies (DAs) to develop the prototype for subsequent procurement of 125 sets of IWTS under the Make II procedure. The IWTS is the first tri-service Make II project with the Indian Army as the lead service. The project is reserved for MSMEs/ Startups. IWTS will be utilised to augment the marksmanship skills of young soldiers on a variety of weapons used by the, providing user-friendly graphics to simulate battle scenarios. IWTS is a modern training aid, which will reduce recurrent expenditures on live ammunition, besides obviating the challenges of availability of firing ranges and inclement weather. Each IWTS will facilitate the training of 10 personnel at any one point in time.

155mm Terminally Guided Munitions (TGM). A project Sanction Order has been issued to six Developing Agencies (DAs) for the development of 155 mm Terminally Guided Munition (TGM) under the Make II scheme. Variants of ammunition were held in the inventory of the IA, sans, the precision strike capability. The IA, therefore, plans to procure approximately 2000 rounds of 155mm TGM against High-Value Targets with assured Precision and Lethality for mission accomplishment and minimum collateral damage.

Medium Range Precision Kill System (MRPKS). A project Sanction Order has been issued to 15 Developing Agencies (DAs) for developing a prototype of MRPKS under the Make-II category of DAP 2020. Post successful development of this prototype, the IA will procure 10 Sets of MRPKS. The Medium Range Precision Kill System (MRPKS), once launched can ‘Loiter’ in the air for up to two hours and can acquire, designate and engage real-time high-value targets up to 40 km. In times to come we see our country transforming as “AtmaNirbhaar” in Loitering Munition Technology.

The Indian Army is already progressing 43 ongoing projects under the Make II procedure of Capital Acquisition. 17 out of 43 projects have been initiated through suo-moto proposals received from the industry, which has generated enthusiasm and confidence in the Indian defence industry for participation in the “Make procedure”.

Make II procurement scheme has given an impetus to increase the Design & Development in the defence industry to achieve indigenisation of high-end technology systems in various types of weapon systems, ammunition and modern training systems, which are currently not available in the country. Multiple measures to expedite the ongoing Make II projects have resulted in tangible outcomes. 22 out of 43 Make II projects are now in the prototype development stage, which is 66 % of projects by cost (Rs 18,000 Crores out of 27,000 Crores).